best room temp for rat with URI?

Petunia · May 24, 2010

we're having high temps here and I put an A/C in the rat room, but I've got one rat who has an URI (probably chronic) and the rest are fine

what temp do I need for the sick rat? I was told to keep him "warm" but I would think too warm would be worse.

anyone know what room temp is best for a rat that's not well?

the room is at 77 now with the A/C OFF and everyone looks ok but I'll need to turn the A/C on soon as the day wears on and gets hotter

I usually keep the A/C set at 78, is that ok?

yes these are F temps I don't know the C scale

Moon · May 24, 2010

I'd think 77-78 would be okay, especially if that's what they're accustomed to.

Chevalrose · May 24, 2010

Yeah I'd say that's alright. You do want to keep a rat with a URI a bit warmer than normal, but having the AC on and the ambient temps in that area should be fine. It wouldn't make sense to keep the whole house any warmer than that just for him. If you'd like to add more heat to the cage you could put a heating pad underneath.

smilez_n_hugs · May 24, 2010

With a URI its not so much the temp of the room as making sure the humidity is high enough (approx. 50%).

May 24, 2010

Normal ideal temp is 70 - 75 ..I find keeping the heat too warm affects thier breathing and makes them ore congested.

Petunia · May 25, 2010

thanks
well normally without the A/C it's been around 70 to 75 at the warmest during the day, in their room, but now that we've got some hot weather, I put the A/c on for when it goes over 77ish because my girls will over heat at that temp

the new fella with the URI is one of my three fosters and I just moved them into the rat room, they were in the LR before but I have no way to cool the LR, so they all have to be in the same room.

I keep a section on their sleeping area covered with a small blanket so if they get chilly they can go there, and he will snuggle up with his two ladies as well.

lilspaz68 · May 25, 2010

He should be fine, Petunia, he has his ladies, and you probably have extra fleece in there as well. Its when they are desperately ill that you have to really worry about the temp changes.