Pets

How long do Hamsters live

How long do hamsters live?

Hamsters are small mice that are often kept as pets. They are distinguishable from other mice because of small ears, stubby legs and short tails. Hamsters come in many different colors, including black, gray, brown, white, yellow, red or a combination of several colors. The life span of a hamster ranges from 2 to 2.5 years. It is important to look for factors that can influence the lifespan of your hamster. Read to know more on how to take care of your pet.

Size

With 24 species of hamsters, these animals come in different sizes.

The European species can grow as large as 34 centimeters in length and is one of the largest species of hamsters. The most common pet hamster, the Syrian hamster, also known as the teddy bear hamster, or golden hamster, usually grows to about 15.24 cm in length.

Hamster habitat

The first hamsters were found in Syria, although they also live in Greece, Romania, Belgium and northern China. In the wild, they prefer warm, dry places, such as plains, sand dunes.

Hamsters are nocturnal, according to the ASPCA, meaning they prefer to sleep during the day. In the wild, they dig trenches, which are a series of tunnels, habitats and breeding grounds. Hamsters will also put food in its burrows.

Some hamsters are loners while others are social. For example, the Syrian hamster does not like to sit next to other hamsters. They are very large and should not be placed in a hole with other hamsters. It will bite another hamster, and could even kill it.

Wild hamsters will sleep when the weather is cold enough. Hamsters will wake up from their sleep from time to time to eat. If there is not enough food stored, the hamsters will hibernate until there is food to hunt.

Hamster life cycle

Females will go into oestrus early, usually between six and eight weeks of age, and males between eight and nine weeks. Litter sizes vary by type but, as a rule, produce four to 12 pups. In the wild, hamsters will give birth during the season but in captivity, it is wise to keep males and females separate unless they would hurt each other due to their territorial nature. Hamsters are very active, earning a small busy life but as they get older, activity will decrease.

Offspring

Male and female hamsters do not spend time mating. If you put two hamsters of the opposite sex in a cage together, the female will get pregnant very quickly.

After birth, the litter is blind until you are two weeks old and at 3 to 4 weeks the young are weaned. Female usually have two to three liters a year. Hamsters usually live for one to two years, but can live up to three years in captivity.

How long do hamsters live – Other things that affect the life of a hamster

Why is it important to find out how long do hamsters live before buying them? Because it is important to know the life span of any animal before buying it. It tells you how long you will need to care for them.

Although the average life span is 2 to 2.5 years, there are several factors that can affect the life span of a hamster. Like most things, there is no guarantee that your hamster will live strictly within the average lifespan. Some hamsters will live for 1.5 years, while others can live up to three. Here are some things to consider.

What are the characteristics of how long hamsters can live?

Some of the things that affect how long a hamster will live are:

  • Types of species
  • Genetics
  • Food
  • Exercise
  • environment
  • Sickness
  • Level of care
How long does Russian hamsters live?

Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamsters and Russian Winter White Dwarf Hamsters have similar lifespan. They both live on an average between 15 months and 2 years.

How long does Robo Hamsters stay?

The Robo Dwarf hamster or Robo dwarf hamster is the smallest species of hamster, but has a very good life span. Life expectancy of Robo hamster – lives 3 to 3.5 years.

How long does the Syrian hamsters live?

The life span of the Syrian hamster – between 2 and 3 years.

How long did the Chinese Hamsters last?

Although not officially the Dwarf hamster, Chinese Dwarf hamsters are often isolated from their younger cousins ​​because of their size and appearance. And they have a long lifespan.

Chinese dwarf hamster’s lifespan – on average 2 – 3 years.

How long do hamsters in Siberian Dwarf live?

Life expectancy of a young Siberian hamster – from 18 months to 2 years.

What is a longest living hamster?

There is a clear lack of information on oldest living hamsters, with anecdotes of a Syrian hamster living more than 6 years! According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest-lived hamster reached 4.5 years of age. True or not, you can give your hamster the best chance of getting a healthy life – regardless of age – by giving him or her proper care. Before considering food, the environment, and other factors, it is important to consider the genetic component during life.

The Genes of a Hamster

Unless you know the history of your hamster’s parenting – and perhaps, moreover – it’s very difficult to know if there are genetic predispositions to health issues. There is a lot of detail available in the information of genetic problems – it depends on anything from the hair color of some hamsters to breed certain problems. Finally, the existing genetic problems are beyond your control, so let’s talk about what you can do to help your hamster stay happy and healthy.

Food and health

In addition to feeding your hamster a nutritious diet, reducing food access can help improve hamster health. It is also thought that dietary changes are worth a try – scientists recommend a combination of fats and proteins fed to young hamsters that can support longevity. Make sure your hamster has omega-3 nutrients rich for a healthy cardiovascular system – lean meat, eggs and fruits and vegetables are all good. Add oats or fiber, and give your hamster a healthy diet.

Environment and Exercise

Hamsters thrive in clean, well-ventilated areas. Replenish beddings regularly, avoiding potential health risks from contamination and accumulated dirt and droppings. Set the hamster location based on the needs of your hamster. For example, avoid direct sunlight as this can be harmful. Always try and adapt to the specific needs of your hamster.

Provide plenty of incentives for exercise and natural behavior – add tunnels and ample space for piercing and concealment, as well as a hamster icon wheel. Hamsters in confined spaces that provide adequate exercise are often healthy, busy little creatures.

Keeping Your Hamster Healthy

The easiest thing to remember when caring for your hamster is to wash your hands consistently.

“Hamsters can catch colds from humans, but what is just an old flu in us can turn into a hamster’s respiratory bacteria quickly. Even if you are not sick, it is important to wash your hands because you may be infected from the outside and you may not know it.

Injuries are as important to worry as diseases when it comes to hamsters. While hamster cages are intended to be safe havens, they may have unknown risks. Hamsters are known to break their legs and feet in their wheels and wireless tires can be just as dangerous. Buy only strong wheels for your hamster and make sure your hamster has proper chewing toys (like soft wooden blocks) and hamster toys available to prevent unwanted chewing of the wheels. If there is any metal or wire area in your hamster habitat, hamsters with long hair should be trimmed so that their fur is not disturbed or caught.

It is also important to clarify the hamster’s sleep; avoid cedar and pine shavings and opt instead for unscented paper-based bedding. Wood shavings can be harmful to small animals and can cause eye irritation, skin irritation and respiratory irritation. In addition, fragrances found in all perfumed beds can affect a hamster.

Poor hamster vision can begin to work in other ways that the owner would like to watch. Hamsters can only see a few inches in front of their face, giving them an uncomfortable feeling of height and making them inclined to take flying heaps out of your hands. For example, if you are standing while holding a hamster, they may come down or get out of your hands in a very sudden way.

Hamsters cannot not handle stress well. They can jump or bite if they are scared and can develop stress-related illnesses, such as proliferative leitis.

Generally, hamsters should be kept alone. In addition to cunningly exploiting “Teddy Bear hamsters,” older Syrian hamsters will resort to extreme violence if they being kept together and other species, including the Campbell dwarf hamster, Roborovski hamster and Djungarian hamster (also known as the -Siberian hamster (Russian winter white hamster), are known to fight each other, especially pregnant females.

Other facts
  • Hamsters are easy to care for

They will also bite when they are awakened during their sleep. As they sleep during the day and people wake up during the day, this means that it is possible to bite.

  • Hamsters have poor eyesight

Their scent glands on their back give off an easily identifiable scent. Finding their way around, they left the scent trail by rubbing their backs on objects. When a hamster needs to find a way back home, it will use this scent trail as a guide.

  • Hamster’s teeth are constantly growing

Chewing with sticks or twigs keeps their teeth short. Without chewing, their teeth can grow longer and damage the roof of the mouth and lips.

  • Mother hamster is very protective

If she fears that her children are in danger, she will put the children in her mouth pouches and carry them to safety. They will need you

Cage

how long do hamster live

Hamsters need more room. Their enclosed area should have at least one or two platforms / stairs / tubes with extra space and interest in them. The bars should not be more than 12mm apart or they can get their heads stuck or slip.

Exercise wheel

how long do hamsters live

Source

Hamsters are full of energy and can run up to 9 miles a day, so the wheel is important for them staying happy. We recommend a small 12-wheeler is a good place to start – if your hamster bends his back while working on his wheel then it is very small and you should invest a lot of money to avoid health problems. It is important that most complete cages on the market come with a suitable tire for a young hamster only – a larger wheel will be needed.

The house

Syrian hamsters need a house in their cage so they can hide and sleep peacefully. Black is best for this, so look for those that offer a good place in a small cave for them.

Substrate

Good examples of substrate are dust extracted rodent safe wood shavings or Care fresh. This should be at a depth of at least 1.5 inches so that they can burrow and dig with joy. Substrate is very important to protect their feet and soak up urine.

Bedding

It is important that you only use safe bedding, which should be kept in their house. We do not recommend fiberglass beds as there is a risk of cramping of the legs, fabric or paper are also good options.

Water bottle

Make sure pets can reach the spout, and fill them daily to monitor their drinking. Spout water bottles can be easily blocked, so it is very important to clean them regularly and check daily for water flow.

Bowl

Syrian hamsters actually benefit greatly from the distribution of feed, so the dish is not always a necessity – just spray their daily portion of food around the enclosure and they will have fun wandering around and collecting everything. However, stainless steel or ceramic containers are best if you wish to use one, as they are clean and cannot be chewed.

Food

Syrian hamsters are omnivores, so they should be fed with a complete Syrian hamster mix. It is important that the animals are weaned gradually from any new food to avoid disturbing their sensitive stomachs. They should be fed a tablespoon of their diet each day to prevent obesity.

Wood gnaws

Like all mice, pet teeth grow continuously as they have hypsodont teeth. Gnaws are important to keep their teeth cut and in good condition. If your hamsters don’t seem to be using their wooden gnaw, it’s a good idea to try different varieties to find out which ones they like best as they tend to choose the taste and texture.

Treats

Feed them always, but not often – their complete Syrian hamster mix will provide them with essential and essential nutrients.

Toys

To stop pets from getting bored when you are not around. it is important to keep them active and refreshed. There is a huge range available for Syrian hamsters from toy toys to stairs, but you can also enjoy creating toys from cardboard to play with and chew on. When making your toys, always check that they are safe to use and that there are no unknown glues and inks.

Potential Health Problems

Extremely large teeth: Syrian hamsters may suffer from overgrown teeth that may need to be cut by a veterinarian.

Hibernation: If hamsters are kept when the temperature drops below 5 ̊C or 40 ̊F they can go into hibernation. They may appear to be asleep or dead. The temperature should be increased gradually by placing the hamster on a covered lid or hot water bottle, not exceeding 32 ̊C or 90 ̊F and taking it directly to the doctor. Animal advice should be sought in case you think your pet appears to be sick in any way.

Weekly Health Screening

You should check your hamster health every time you handled him or her to learn what is normal for your pet. This will help you to address any health concerns quickly and thus seek animal advice very quickly.

  • Is the underside of the tail clean?
  • Do they have all the toes and nails? Are they clean and do they overgrow?
  • Do the legs move freely without stiffness or staggering?
  • Are teeth available? Are they straight and not growing?
  • Is the nose clean without discharge?
  • Eyes bright and clear?
  • Hearing; are they smooth and clean?
  • Is the fur clean without parasites?
  • Feel the body. Fat enough? It should not feel swollen or bony.
  • Listen to the chest. Is breathing almost quiet without no wheezing?

If you answered no to any of the above your pet may need veterinary attention.

Please try to manage and play with your pet as often as possible, you will find that you will be rewarded with a very happy and friendly pet. If you are not 100% sure that you or your children will be able to give your pet the attention it needs please think twice.

Summary

Asking how long hamsters live apparently depends on a number of factors. Recognizing any changes in your hamster behavior can help keep him as healthy as possible. Early animal care can prevent problems from arising – regular checks are recommended. Providing a safe and peaceful environment can only be beneficial. Inevitably, your hamster will age. Be aware of reduced activity, and less interest in food and / or performance. Make things easier by placing food and water containers near your hamster, in case their eyesight, smell, and vision are affected. No matter how much life your pet has, you can control the quality – Enjoy the time you have with your happy hamster.