06/09/2025
While we are enjoying the extra Vitamin D available outdoors, not everyone is comfortable with the increases in temperature. All exotic pets can get heat stress or heat stroke, and some are particularly sensitive, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and certain species of reptiles and amphibians. It is critically important to have a plan for mitigating higher temperatures. Some general tips include providing shade, increasing air flow with fans, and ensuring the animal has consistent access to water. Some animals benefit from having ice in their enclosure to lick/lay against. You can also make homemade “cooling units” out of a bucket and fan; you fill the bucket with ice and then turn on the fan. These units can be made inexpensively and we have attached a Youtube link at the bottom of this post for the complete tutorial. Although these units will cool down a small room a few degrees and help increase airflow, they are not a substitute for actual air conditioning.
On the plus side, this is a great time to get many species of reptiles outside for some natural sunlight basking time! Be sure they have the ability to maintain their preferred environmental temperatures, and to give them access to shade as well.
https://youtu.be/HxSLbpAwibg
