I don't have a thermometer, I judge based on the way they are acting. Crowded under the light...cold. Hiding in the corner from the light...too warm. Spread out everywhere passed out where they fell....happy.
I use aspen bedding, and the first 5 days I had paper towels down on top of that. Now they are just on the bedding, and not eating it. Aspen is, IMO the safest wood for rodents and any small animal. We use it for our hamster and bunnies. Don't use cedar. Pine is ok though, but like I said, I think Aspen is best.
I also use a big giant plastic tote, mine is tinted but see through so they can see out. Its really easy to clean and they enjoy watching us. Or, at least I think! lol
I use a 125 white bulb, 12-16 inches above them depending on the time of day. I lower it at night, raise it in the day. They live in my laundry room. No, not a laundry closet and its in my actual house not in the garage so they are also getting the heat from the house. 250 would have been to hot for mine. Mine sleep forever and don't seem to mind the light at all. I put the lid to the tote on, except horizontal so there is no change of it falling in, and I cover about half or maybe less...than the tote so that half is open and exposed for the heat lamp and the other half is shaded. Often they will go on the shaded side and sleep but there are a few who just sleep right under the light. As soon as they don't see light from the laundry room window at night they start getting quiet and we never hear them at night. They will remain quiet and sleepy until I reopen the curtains in the morning (they are black out curtains)
I've never heard to take the heat away at 1.5 weeks. Everyone keeps saying even at 3-4wks they need it at least at night, until they are ready to go outside at 6 weeks. I definitely won't be taking the heat away that soon. My house stays at about 70 so for several more weeks at least in my house....that's too cold.
I use aspen bedding, and the first 5 days I had paper towels down on top of that. Now they are just on the bedding, and not eating it. Aspen is, IMO the safest wood for rodents and any small animal. We use it for our hamster and bunnies. Don't use cedar. Pine is ok though, but like I said, I think Aspen is best.
I also use a big giant plastic tote, mine is tinted but see through so they can see out. Its really easy to clean and they enjoy watching us. Or, at least I think! lol
I use a 125 white bulb, 12-16 inches above them depending on the time of day. I lower it at night, raise it in the day. They live in my laundry room. No, not a laundry closet and its in my actual house not in the garage so they are also getting the heat from the house. 250 would have been to hot for mine. Mine sleep forever and don't seem to mind the light at all. I put the lid to the tote on, except horizontal so there is no change of it falling in, and I cover about half or maybe less...than the tote so that half is open and exposed for the heat lamp and the other half is shaded. Often they will go on the shaded side and sleep but there are a few who just sleep right under the light. As soon as they don't see light from the laundry room window at night they start getting quiet and we never hear them at night. They will remain quiet and sleepy until I reopen the curtains in the morning (they are black out curtains)
I've never heard to take the heat away at 1.5 weeks. Everyone keeps saying even at 3-4wks they need it at least at night, until they are ready to go outside at 6 weeks. I definitely won't be taking the heat away that soon. My house stays at about 70 so for several more weeks at least in my house....that's too cold.
