Hamsters live for 2-3 years in captivity. Although the average lifespan is 2 to 2.5 years, there are several factors that may influence how long a hamster will live. Brown, Susan. Wild hamsters: Where do hamsters come from? Chinese dwarf hamster lifespan is 2-3 years. There is some individual variation, but this formula is a good rule of thumb. The answer to the question, How long do hamsters live? differs between the breeds. Didnt see it coming. I have a Hamster called Hammy had her for 2 years 3 days ago i noticed a difference in her i thought she was playing at first rolling over on her back and then wobbling on her legs and her fur has faded and can feel her back bone and wont let us pick her up if we try shell grunt and Hiss at us and Yesterday she bit me and has never done that not even to any of us ?? Other common ailments that affect hamsters include: Amyloidosis (protein deposits in the organs). broke his leg! Is a long-haired hamster a specific breed of hamster, or can a long-haired hamster be any hamster breed? However they have a shorter average life expectancy than pet hamsters as their young are often killed by predators. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. Zara is Editor on bookazines and covers a range of topics from cookery to travel and animals. The most common hamster species is the Syrian, also known as the golden hamster. Hamsters are typically nocturnal animals that like to burrow and hoard food. A year. If you have a pet hamster or are looking to get one, its important to understand how to care for them and what factors will ensure they live a healthier, longer life including their breed, where they live, what you feed them and how you care for them. However, data scientifically gathered from zoo collections puts the maximum lifespan of a striped dwarf hamster at 5.3 years. Hamster size is interlinked with their lifespan and how they age. 09, 2020 she started having a hard time breathing. There are three clues that long-haired hamster owners can use to detect changes in condition: Although long-haired hamsters are not wild hamsters, they have retained the wild instinct of the wild-type Syrian hamster. Genetics. We are a team of prolific hamster fans and pet enthusiasts, combing the web for up-to-date, fact-checked information on hamster breeds, care, and products. They live for an average of 3 to 3.5 years. Syrian hamsters are also known as golden hamsters or teddy bear hamsters. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. Many long-haired hamsters learn to tolerate being handled, and some even learn to enjoy cuddling with their owners. However, the lifespan varies depending on the type of hamster and ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 years. At five days, they start to grow fur. Yesterday my daughter and I fed her treats and she was jumping around. If the tubes are attached to the walls, make sure they are secure so your hamster does not suffer a fall and injure themselves. Compared to larger mammals, the biological mechanisms of small creatures like hamsters arent as efficient. It is of course possible for a Roborovski hamster to only live for 1.5 years, or fora Chinese hamster tolive for over 3 years. If you have more than one hamster, youll need double the size cage. Golden hamsters can produce five litters a year. In smaller mammals, maintenance of these biological processes is less effective than with larger ones. Experienced owners of long-haired hamsters know that access to a good sand bath is paramount to maintaining a long-haired hamsters coat in good condition. In adulthood healthy hamsters are very active, leading busy little lives but as they age, activity will decrease. The oldest Syrian Hamster on record lived to the ripe age of 6 and a half. Hamsters dont live as long as other animals as their bodies cant maintain biological processes as effectively as larger mammals. Having just moved into a bigger house she is currently looking at which dog and cats breed would suit her new family so she can fill her house with pets. Any hamster that is a year and a half old is considered elderly. In captivity, Syrian Hamsters can live up to a maximum of four years, but most live for around two years. As per statistics provided by the Guinness World Records, the longest-lived hamster was 4.5 years old in the United States. Avoid plastic toys. My Hamster Has A Tumor How Long Until She Dies? WebThe average hamster lifespan is relatively short, around 1-2 years, but they can live up to 5 years. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. One way of gauging this is by noting how many turns hamsters make on their wheel. Theyre one of the most popular breeds. From longest to shortest, the following are the average lifespans of the five most popular hamster species: Roborovski Hamster: 3 to 3.5 years Syrian Hamster: 2 to 2.5 years Largely due to the dangers of life in the wild, including predators and fluctuations in climate, a wild hamster may have an even shorter lifespan than a pet hamster. Pups are looked after by their mother for around 28 days. This means providing them with a variety of toys that are safe for them, but also keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Roborovski hamsters live for 3-3.5 years, while hairless hamsters, which are Syrian hamsters without fur, live for 6-12 months. Before learning how to care for a long-haired Syrian hamster, it is essential to confirm that your hamster is a long-haired Syrian hamster and not an imposter! Back to the full plastic cage. Evolution, stress, and longevity, Journal of Anatomy, Vol. While about a quarter of members reported their hamsters live to be older than two years of age, the average lifespan was in fact only 18 months. You have entered an incorrect email address! The good news is, you can help extend your hamsters life expectancy further if you provide them high-quality care and meet their dietary and environmental needs. And find out how to help our hamsters live as long and happy a life as possible. This includes the right type of bedding made from paper, wood, vegetables or grain as these are absorbent. Like all other animals, there is no fixed amount of time that a hamster will live for. Syrian hamsters can have short or long hair (known as the teddy bear variety). What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? She also has over 5 years experience working with vets, wildlife experts and animal behaviourists in her comms roles for various animal charities. The correct diet, a clean living space, plenty of room to move around and exercise in, and low stress, all help hamsters to live longer. Proliferative Ileitis causes inflammation in the small intestines, which in turn causes the hamster to have a watery diarrhea characterized by wet matted fur on the hamsters tail, rump, and belly. Hamsters love to run and will happily do so for hours. Not only does the oil make your hamster look like it got caught in an oil spill, but it also provides the perfect environment for fungal and bacterial infections. These are the average lifespans of pet hamsters by breed: Golden/Syrian Hamster 2-4 years Siberian Hamster Around 2 years Chinese Hamster 2-3 years Roborovski Dwarf Hamster Around 3 years She was happy and excited every I come in a call her and she starts climbing up her cage. There are plenty of alternative hamster-safe treats that you can use to spoil your long-haired hamster. The Squeaks and Nibbles team take a look at normal hamster lifespan, and how to help your hamster live as long and full a life as possible. 2012. Alternatively, you can put your hamster in a container and weigh the container and hamster together. Some of the softer hamster-safe fruits like plum and banana can form a sticky residue that gets tangled in the coat of a long-haired hamster. Caring for a long-haired hamster requires a good diet, a high-quality sandbox, a low-stress environment, and plenty of cage space. There is no consensus about the best size for a long-haired Syrian hamsters cage. Always try and tailor it to your hamsters specific needs. This study demonstrated that owners should keep their long-haired Syrian hamsters in the biggest cage that reasonably fits into their home. Many factors can determine how long a hamster lives, but the main reason that they may live longer as pets is because they are cared for and protected from predators. Diet & Nutrition. Syrian hamsters can have short or long hair (known as the teddy bear variety). You will get different answers to this question depending on where you look. Try to keep his environment quiet, and try not to surprise him when you go to handle him. Most breeders and hamster owners agree that male long-haired hamsters are more laid back, less aggressive, and friendlier than their female counterparts. Veterinary Partner. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mesocricetus_auratus/#lifespan_longevityhttps://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102923&id=9610265https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231928/https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article-abstract/64/4/236/787398https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article-abstract/65/1/57/852070https://research.fiu.edu/documents/facilities/acf/documents/hamster-biology-husbandry.pdfhttps://www.msdvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rodents/hamstershttps://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/hamsters/providing-a-home-for-a-hamster. Gestation periods are quite short, at 20-22 days. On average, different types of hamster live for the following amounts of time Roborovski Hamster: 3 to 3.5 years Syrian Hamster: 2 to 2.5 years Campbells Dwarf Hamster: 2 years Chinese Hamster: 1.5 to 2 years Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster: 1.5 to 2 years Golden hamsters can produce five litters a year. Like many other animals, domesticated hamsters live longer than their wild cousins. They can get omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fruits, grains, vegetables, lean cuts of meat, and eggs. What do Syrian Hamsters look like? Male long-haired hamsters typically have longer, fuzzier coats than females due to their elevated testosterone levels. Learning what normal behavior for your long-haired hamster is will allow you to notice subtle differences in your hamster behavior. Species This is usually less in the wild. The longest hamster lived for 4.5 years, according to Guinness World Records. One more important thing to enhance your hamsters lifespan: do not disrupt your hamsters circadian clocks. On average most long-haired Syrian hamsters should weigh slightly less than an ounce for every inch of length. Once hamsters are sexually mature, you can tell which is which by looking at their rear ends while the hamsters are vertically held with WebUsually a hamster will live for about 2-3 years at most. A hamsters diet should consist mainly of a commercially produced pelleted rodent diet intended for mice and rats. However, it is essential to remember to deduct the weight of the container to find out what your long-haired hamster weighs. LafeberVet. You therefore need toknow how long you are committing to looking after your pet and be absolutely sure that youre happy to take on that responsibility. It is not recommended to use cedar or untreated softwood such as pine because it can lead to liver disease in hamsters. So, its important to find out: how long do hamsters live? Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Surprisingly wild hamsters can live for longer. (Image credit: Frenjamin Benklin/Unsplash), Seven signs your cat isn't getting what it needs, Five signs of dog allergies you really need to know, hamsters need a mix of both protein and veg, Can dogs get sick from humans? At birth, they are blind and deaf with no fur. However, this varies, of course, depending on the individual hamster. Pitts, J. Syrian hamsters do not find themselves comfortable in this kind of caging or living, either these hamsters start getting bore and rude. For example, some breeds feel the cold easier than others, so avoid draughts and chilly rooms similarly, direct sunlight might be harmful. Hamsters in safe enclosures that give adequate scope for exercise tend to be healthy, busy little creatures. How long do Syrian hamsters live? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Syrian hamster lifespan between 2 and 3 years [males usually outlive females]. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. A Syrian hamster, for example, requires two teaspoons of food a day; a dwarf hamster needs just one teaspoon. Make sure their enclosures are clean. On average, a hamster will live for around 2.5 years. On average, a hamster will live for around 2 to 2.5 years. Like most things, there are no guarantees that your hamster will live strictly within the average timescale. (Image credit: Getty Images) To avoid your hamster getting ill from germs or bacteria, clean their cage regularly. Well get into specifics on individual breeds a little later on in this article. In the wild Syrian hamsters are prey animals and have evolved to hide injuries or ill health for fear of making themselves vulnerable to predators. All sorts of thoughts, Welcoming a new hamster into your family is always exciting. Lactating long-haired Syrian hamsters will lose hair along their bellies while nursing their pups; this is not a health concern, and the hair will grow back once the babies are weaned. I have a hard time loosing animals. Hes the most laid back and amazing Ive ever seen. That said, it is possible to give a rough idea of how long your hamster is likely to live,based on the average hamster lifespan. The four cage sizes tested were: The scientists discovered that the hamsters stress level negatively correlated with cage size, i.e., as cage size increased, the hamsters stress level decreased. Before this hamsters may be not survive. Many factors affect a hamsters life span, they include; Quality of care. Hamsters get dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, and oats. Make things easier by placing food bowls and water near your hamster, in case their sight, smell, and vision are affected. 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Out what your long-haired hamster requires a good rule of thumb less effective than with larger ones handle.. Than an ounce for every inch of length many turns hamsters make on their wheel as young! Outlive females ] use cedar or untreated softwood such as pine because it can lead to liver disease in....