Sometimes there are situations where your guinea pigs are so cold that you may want to get them something that gives off some warmth like a heat lamp.
So while something like that can provide a lot of warmth for them especially on those colder days, do guinea pigs really need a heat lamp?
Guinea pigs can need a heat lamp if they’re kept in a temperature that is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 16 degrees Celsius, but if it’s not that cold then they won’t need one to stay warm.
So it’s definitely something that you can use for them if you know that it’s too cold.
But there are also some alternatives that you can try if it’s not cold enough for a heat lamp as well.
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Does My Guinea Pig Need A Heat Lamp?
There are some cases where your guinea pigs may need a heat lamp and there are some cases where they won’t.
So for example, if your guinea pigs are kept in temperatures that are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 16 degrees Celsius then they won’t really need a heat lamp.
Above that temperature, they will be able to do a good job of keeping themselves naturally warm all by themselves.
That means that your guinea pigs won’t need any extra assistance on your part when they’re kept in an area above that temperature.
They’ll be able to easily keep themselves warm by huddling with each other and also by using other things in their cage that can keep them warm like a blanket.
But it’s possible that you may need a heat lamp if your guinea pigs are kept in temperatures that go well below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 16 degrees Celsius consistently.
They won’t do too well if the temperature gets that low and in some cases, they can even get hypothermia if they’re left too cold for too long.
The heat provided by other guinea pigs and blankets won’t be enough to keep them warm if the temperature drops that low.
This is especially the case during the night time when it starts out cold and then gets colder throughout the night.
So if you know that they’re in a situation that’s too cold for them then it might be time to start thinking about getting a heat lamp for your guinea pigs or at least one of the alternatives that you can use to help keep them warm.
Are Heat Lamps Safe For Guinea Pigs?
If you’re planning on using the warmth of a heat lamp for them then it’s natural to wonder if those heat lamps are safe for your guinea pigs.
Heat lamps are safe for guinea pigs as long as you use the ones that are specifically made for small pets and don’t get too hot because they’re too powerful.
The reason why they’re safe is that the ones that are made for small pets like guinea pigs will be able to warm them up without making them too hot.
So if you do start using a heat lamp to keep them warm then you’ll also want to be as safe as you can while you’re using it.
For example, don’t put it directly into their enclosure because there is a decent chance that they will try to mess with it and that can harm them.
That means that you should put the heat lamp outside of their cage but not too close to it because that can cause your guinea pigs to become too warm.
It’s also best if you don’t let the temperature around your guinea pigs go over 85 degrees Fahrenheit while using a heat lamp.
Any temperature above that would be too hot for them and can be considered going overboard when it comes to keeping them warm.
Heat lamps are a great option especially on those nights that get really cold. But if you think that your guinea pigs don’t need that much heat or get too hot with a heat lamp then you can try other heating sources for them.
Which Type Of Heat Lamp Can You Use For Your Guinea Pigs?
There are many different heat lamps that are available but the ones that you use for your guinea pigs shouldn’t be so powerful that it warms them up too much.
But it should be powerful enough that it can help them maintain their body heat.
So it’s best if you go with the ones that are made with small pets in mind like this heat lamp on Amazon.
It works well for small pets like guinea pigs by giving them enough heat to keep them warm without making them too hot.
You would just need to put it above your guinea pigs’ enclosure and not on the sides of it because that’s where it’ll work best to heat their enclosure evenly.
You can also try a ceramic coil bulb that gives off heat without giving off too much light as well.
These ones are usually found in a pet store in the reptile section, but they still can do a good job of keeping guinea pigs warm if they’re used in a safe way.
It can provide a lot of heat and is a great option but this is something that you’ll have to place in a lamp base that can fit it.
Will Guinea Pigs Even Like Heat Lamps?
So sometimes guinea pigs can need heat lamps and they’re safe to use if they’re used properly, but will guinea pigs even like the heat lamps?
Put simply, guinea pigs will like the heat lamps if they’re too cold for too long but they will stop liking them as soon as they start to feel like it’s causing them to become too hot.
That means that when you’re using a heat lamp to keep your guinea pigs warm you shouldn’t constantly leave it on throughout the day.
The only time that you should constantly leave it on throughout the day is if the temperature is consistently low.
So if the temperature during the daytime is good enough that you won’t need to have it on then turn it off.
That way your guinea pigs won’t become overheated and will like the heat lamp a lot more when it’s appropriately used.
Heat Lamp Alternatives For Guinea Pigs
If you think that your guinea pigs are cold but not cold enough for a heat lamp, then you have some other options that you can try that do a good job of keeping them warm.
One of the alternatives that you can use instead of a heat lamp is heat pads.
Heat pads are safe and there are different types of them that you can use that can provide your guinea pigs with some warmth in different ways.
For example, there are the microwavable heat pads that can stay warm for a while that is good for slightly colder days and nights.
Another type of heat pad that you can use are the electric ones that can keep the warmth steady while it’s plugged in.
Both of these are a really good alternative that you can use instead of heat lamps, so if you need more information on heat pads then you can check out my post on the best heat pads for guinea pigs.
If you’re not already using a bunch of towels or blankets then you can try using those as an alternative as well.
These are good for when it’s cold but it’s not cold enough to use something that gives off a heat source.
The towels and blankets will allow them to wrap themselves in them which can help prevent some of their body heat from escaping.
An example of this would be a fleece blanket that usually works really well when it comes to keeping them warm throughout a slightly cold day or night.
So if you don’t want to use a heat lamp or you’re not comfortable with using one, then you do have some other options that you can use that can do a good job depending on how cold your guinea pigs are.