Greenwood Chinchillas
Chins and Humidity
Heat is not the only major environmental problem that chinchillas face in the UK. Humidity also plays a huge part in keeping them well and healthy.
Humidity is the amount of water in the atmosphere. The higher the humidity the more dense and muggy it feels for us and our chinchillas. Higher humidity traps more heat in the air and creates a higher atmospheric pressure.
Humidity when combined with heat can be a killer, and on its own can lead to fur fungus and other such diseases being caused by bad conditions and claggy fur which is not clean and standing straight from the body. This promotes conditions in which fur fungus spores can easily take root and spread rapidly.
In looking at Heat and Humidity a calculation such as the following is often used as a means to identify what is safe for chinchillas or not.
Temperature (degrees F) PLUS humidity (percentage) should not be 150 or over. Higher than this level, then their is serious danger of your chinchillas overheating and suffering heat stroke - in pregnant animals, youngsters, or animals with thicker fur then this level could be even lower.
If the total is over 100 then this could still lead to problems if it is not only for a short period, so efforts should be made to lower the temperature and humidity.
Dehumidifiers are relatively cheap and are very effective but do raise the temperature of the room in which they operate, so it may be necessary to run it in conjunction with an air con unit.