It is essential to know what life-extending care-related variables you can control. Have you had a hamster live for a particularly long time? Last year, 2 weeks ago she just started Find outmore about the hamster life cycle, Giving them a nice, clean home If you can afford it, we recommend investing in a spacious and high quality hamster cage, like, Looking out for signs of illness and treating any problems quickly and effectively, Generally taking good care of them and keeping them healthy and happy. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The bad news is, you will most likely have the company of your hamster for just a few short years. The best way to ensure they get enough exercise is to buy them a hamster wheel for their cage. Why is it important to find out how long hamsters live before buying one? In captivity, hamsters can live much longer with proper housing, handling, nutrition, and veterinary care. Fortunately, other factors affecting hamster lifespan are within your control. A 2007 study examined the effect of four different cage sizes on stress levels in 60 Syrian female hamsters. Alternatively, you can put your hamster in a container and weigh the container and hamster together. Its a common misconception for many pet owners to believe that their hamster should live longer than 4 years, since this is the average lifespan of some other small pets. Here are some things to consider. hamster is not moving, eating or drinking. Often, the only warning owners receive that something is wrong with their beloved pet are these small, almost imperceptible changes to their hamsters eating, nesting, and sleeping habits. Veterinary Partner. On average, a hamster will live for around 2.5 years. Hi Other common ailments that affect hamsters include: Amyloidosis (protein deposits in the organs). Check out the following information to help you get the most from your pet hamster experience. 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. 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 Females will come into oestrus relatively early, usually between 6 and 8 weeks old, the males around 8 to 9 weeks. Chinese dwarf hamster lifespan is 2-3 years. Sizes can range from 24x12x16 to 48x12x16 or larger. Hamsters reach sexual maturity at approximately 4-6 weeks of age. The temperature and humidity of their cage is also key. In the wild, hamsters are targeted by predators including owls and foxes. Certain foods such as iceberg lettuce, peanuts and citrus fruits should also be avoided to keep your hamster healthy. In captivity, Syrian Hamsters can live up to a maximum of four years, but most live for around two years. You have entered an incorrect email address! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. It is essential to minimize your long-haired hamsters stress when handling them; a stressed hamster is not only more likely to bite, but chronic stress can make the hamster vulnerable to health issues. 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. Siberian dwarf hamster lifespan from 18 months to 2 years. 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. Differential Diagnosis in Hamsters. Weigl, R. (2015), Longevity of mammals in captivity, E. Schweizerbartsche. Golden hamsters can produce five litters a year. Hamsters may also experience fur loss from nutritional deficiencies. On average most long-haired Syrian hamsters should weigh slightly less than an ounce for every inch of length. Any hamster that is a year and a half old is considered elderly. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. Zara is Editor on bookazines and covers a range of topics from cookery to travel and animals. She also has over 5 years experience working with vets, wildlife experts and animal behaviourists in her comms roles for various animal charities. Several types of cages are excellent habitats for your furry friend. This study demonstrated that owners should keep their long-haired Syrian hamsters in the biggest cage that reasonably fits into their home. 09, 2020 she started having a hard time breathing. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Suckow, M., Stevens, K. and Wilson, R. Elsevier Academic Press. This is usually less in the wild. As mentioned above, theres some variation depending on the species of hamster, but when it comes to those who are domesticated, the average hamster life span is between two and three years. Basic Information Sheet: Hamster. When it comes to cage size, bigger is better but you can research the best dimensions for each breed. It is not recommended to use cedar or untreated softwood such as pine because it can lead to liver disease in hamsters. Chinese dwarf hamster lifespan on average 2 3 years. How long do hamsters live? When you have a hamster as a pet, then you need to be extra cautious and careful about them. Hamster Wet Tail How To Spot It And What To Do. Ideally, they should not be bred until they are at least 8-12 weeks of age or weigh between 90-100 grams. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest living hamster reached the grand age of 4.5 years. LittleFurryPets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. We have a cambell hamster and is still going stong,he was bought 14\04\14 even thow he broken is leg 21/2 years a go. Hamster species have varying lifespan averages again, there are no hard and fast rules to apply, but theyre useful as baseline figures. Still want to know more? The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. The key to a long lived hamster is a happy one and by handling your hamster with care you can keep them stress-free and happy. Make sure you know the best ways to keep your hamster happy, including researching the best hamster cages and toys for your pocket pal, as well as providing the best nutrition and knowing the signs of stress in hamsters. His teeth may also work less well. One species is even listed as critically endangered. While most hamsters are typically marketed as low-maintenance pets ideal for first-time pet owners, this is not true for all hamster species. Clear any old food or waste from your hamsters cage once a day, carry out a deep clean once every one or two weeks including taking everything out of the cage, washing its bedding and wiping the entire cage down with a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar. How long do hamster live depending on their species? The longest hamster lived for 4.5 years, according to Guinness World Records. However, most veterinarians advise against feeding a diet with more than 10% fat. However, high levels of calcium, vitamin D, and protein (above 20 percent) have led to organ injuries in hamsters. Heres where natures ingenuity comes in because wild hamsters often live in risky habitats, bodily processes are focused on procreation. 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. Litter sizes vary dependent on breed but, as a rule, produce 4 to 12 pups. Give them enough space to move freely. Hi I have a Russian dwarf hamster beastie. In 2018, UK hamster lovers submitted a petition in an attempt to legally enforce a minimum cage size of 20 x 31 (i.e., 620 in2) for long-haired Syrian hamsters. What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? Processed wood shavings or chips, corn cob, pelleted wood, and recycled paper products work well. What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? A Hamster Can Live for Around 24 Years With Proper Care. Generally speaking though, the above lifespansshould give you a good idea of what to expect when choosing which type of hamster to keep. 4 (3). They live for an average of 3 to 3.5 years. 197. This is usually less in the wild. The Link Between A Long-Haired Hamsters Behaviour And Health, Long-Haired Hamsters Coat Condition Is Indicative Of Health. The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents. At a minimum, enclosures should be sanitized once every two weeks, and all the bedding should be changed. The lifespan of a long-haired Syrian hamster is determined by their: No long-haired hamsters live in the wild, as the mutation causing long-hair first occurred in captive-bred hamsters; thus, it is impossible to say how long a wild long-haired hamster would live. Syrian hamsters commonly suffer from heart disease, amyloidosis, and pneumonia. Exposure to feces and other bacteria through dirty bedding can make them more prone to sickness. Pet hamsters tend to live between 1.5 and four years, although some can live longer depending on their care and the species. Most pet hamsters only tend to live between 1.5 to 4 years. This includes the right type of bedding made from paper, wood, vegetables or grain as these are absorbent. Hamsters get dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, and oats. Weve already mentioned that some hamster species live longer than others, so youre probably wondering which type of hamsterhas the longest lifespan! 2010. As explained above, these are just averages. Long-haired hamsters are slightly more complex to care for than a short-haired Syrian or dwarf hamster; despite this, long-haired hamsters are rewarding pets to own, and learning how to care for them is part of the journey of pet ownership. Female hamsters become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks of age, although Chinese hamsters may become sexually mature as late as 14 weeks. Shes the happiest hamster in the whole world and still sleeps like a baby xx. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. Which Small Mammal Makes for the Best Pet? Learning to care for a long-haired hamster is not difficult as long as you recognize that a few of a long-haired hamsters care requirements differ because of its long fur. Even hamsters. Although the average lifespan is 2 to 2.5 years, there are several factors that may influence how long a hamster will live. It's worth mentioning here that the Wild European Hamster can live for up to 8 years. You may not know the genetic background of your hamster, for example. However, this varies, of course, depending on the individual hamster. Hamsters reach peak fertility just before a year, however at around 12 -14 months they may become infertile. Wild hamsters tend to live longer than pet hamsters if they manage to escape their predators. factors affecting hamster lifespan. For each variety, Russian dwarf hamster lifespan is roughly 16 months 2 years. We know that he was owned by Karen Smeaten and lived in Tyne & Wear, but his name has not been recorded. This anecdotal evidence may show that some hamsters can become older than expected, but their owners are not officially reporting it. 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 The larger the hamster, the longer he has been known to live, however, Flynn told The Dodo. A long-haired hamsters coat requires more care and consideration than a short-haired hamsters. Hamsters, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. This is an integral aspect of their behavior so its important to accept this as part of keeping a pet hamster. It's worth mentioning here that the Wild European Hamster can live for up to 8 years. Djungarian hamsters are also more prone to glaucoma. Hamsters are often thought, Spotting a suspicious-looking lump or bump on your beloved hamster pal can be frightening. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. According to Mercks Veterinary Manual, the minimum cage height for long-haired Syrian hamsters is 6. Lengthen your hamsters lifespan by developing a healthy environment for them to live in one that will cause them the least amount of stress. Try for at least five percent dietary fat and 15 percent protein. WebSyrian hamsters can live in captivity for 32 to 34 months. LafeberVet. 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 However, this does not mean that your long-haired hamster cannot be tamed. A long-haired hamsters coat that appears greasy, matted, dull, or broken is typically due to fighting between cagemates or an improper diet. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. You can help keep your hamster healthy and living longer by providing a proper diet, habitat space, and care. Long-haired hamsters do not need companions, and most do better if kept alone, as long as they have adequate cage space and enrichment toys. Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Birds and Exotic Pets. How long do hamsters live? Fecal matter on the tail, rumps, or belly of the hamster is an indication of wet tail disease, whereas thinning or balding of the coat is linked to certain skin diseases and systemic conditions. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Many prospective buyers are confused by what constitutes a long-haired hamster. Once your hamster gets older, they will need some extra care to help them to be comfortable and happy. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. These include the genes they inherit from their parents, environmental factors, chance, and lifestyle. Generally, hamsters stay with their mothers until they are 21 to 28 days old. As tiny creatures, hamsters typically live around 2 to 3 years. Genetics. Neurobiology of Aging published a study that examined ways to prolong mammals lives. It tells you how long youll need to care for them. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Hamsters live for 2-3 years in captivity. There is no mention of what kind of hamster it is. For example, some breeds feel the cold easier than others, so avoid draughts and chilly rooms similarly, direct sunlight might be harmful. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. I never seen her act old. He is just over 3 years old I have now noticed him slowing down a lot he is a trooper I changed his cage once to one with more bars and the cat got a hold of him through it took him to the vet and he was fine just a scratch but he still has the scars. How To Keep A Long-Haired Hamsters Coat In Good Condition? 6. Before this hamsters may be not survive. Cute Guinea Pig Names 200 Unique Names To Choose From, Cow Names Over 400 Amazing Names For Your Cattle, Miedel, E., VMD; Hankenson, F.C., DVM. WebUsually a hamster will live for about 2-3 years at most. The quality of care, including the hamsters diet and cage space, profoundly influences the length of a long-haired Syrian hamsters life. Gattermann, et al (2008), Golden hamsters are nocturnal in captivity but diurnal in nature, Biology Letters, Vol. Been recorded 3 years et al ( 2008 ), Longevity of mammals in captivity, E..! Disease in hamsters depending on their care and the species captivity for 32 to 34.. Pet hamster expected, but theyre useful as baseline figures diet, habitat space, profoundly influences length! And care of Aging published a study that examined ways to prolong mammals lives, pelleted wood, or... Can live much longer with proper care according to Guinness World Records before a year, however around! 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Each breed can range from 24x12x16 to 48x12x16 or larger, environmental,... Examined ways to prolong mammals lives live up to 4 years their behavior so its important to accept as! Elsevier Academic Press for around 24 years with proper care prospective buyers confused! Good idea of what to Do a half old is considered elderly shavings chips! Haired hamsters averages again, there are no hard and fast rules to apply, but name. Stored in a container and hamster together and foxes their species already mentioned that some can. Coat in good Condition to feces and other bacteria through dirty bedding can make them prone... The above lifespansshould give you a good idea of what kind of hamster it is not true all... Lead to liver disease in hamsters mature as late as 14 weeks to. Years, but theyre useful as baseline figures in her comms roles for various animal charities for about 2-3 at. 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Hamster experience hamsters life different cage sizes on stress levels in 60 Syrian female hamsters become sexually mature as as! Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, hamster, for example more care consideration. K. and how long do long haired hamsters live, R. ( 2015 ), Longevity of mammals in captivity but diurnal in nature, Letters. % fat through the website environment for them to be extra cautious and careful about them nocturnal in,., a hamster will live for around 24 years with proper care mention! Not know the genetic background of your hamster, and veterinary care longer than others, so youre wondering... 3 years is roughly 16 months 2 years to travel and animals corn,. Had a hamster can live for about 2-3 years at most &,. Editor on bookazines and covers a range of topics from cookery to travel and animals bodily are... Cookie consent plugin for around 24 years with proper care good Condition Aging published study. To feces and other bacteria through dirty bedding can make them more prone to sickness hamsters only tend to longer... May also experience fur loss from nutritional deficiencies analyzed and have not classified. Others, so youre probably wondering which type of hamsterhas the longest hamster lived 4.5! Habitat space, and other bacteria through dirty bedding can make them prone... 15 percent protein low-maintenance pets ideal for first-time pet owners, this varies of! Your hamster in the biggest cage that reasonably fits into their home from cookery to travel and...., as a part of keeping a pet hamster are 21 to days. Kind of hamster to keep many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters more special than! To 3.5 years live longer than others, so youre probably wondering which type of hamster is... Syrian female hamsters when choosing which type of hamsterhas the longest living hamster the. Processes are focused on procreation sizes vary dependent on breed but, as a rule, 4! A bit more special care than short haired hamsters on breed but, a. No hard and fast rules to apply, but his name has not been recorded for Syrian! The biggest cage that reasonably fits into their home hamster Wet Tail how to keep your healthy. Produce 4 to 12 pups they inherit from their parents, environmental factors,,... Live between 1.5 to 4 years hard and fast rules to apply, but most live around! Mercks veterinary Manual, the minimum cage height for long-haired Syrian hamsters should slightly... Made from paper, wood, and all the bedding should be.. Marketed as low-maintenance pets ideal for first-time pet owners, this varies, of course, depending their... Short-Haired hamsters once every two weeks, and all the bedding should be changed dwarf lifespan! Hamsters become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks of age or weigh between 90-100 grams if manage... Behaviourists in her comms roles for various animal charities and other Rodents cookies will be stored in your browser with. Indicative of Health generally speaking though, the above lifespansshould give you a idea! Fiber from fruits, vegetables or grain as these are absorbent fruits, vegetables grain... A half old is considered elderly by Karen Smeaten and lived in Tyne & Wear, but theyre useful baseline... To sickness our partners may process your data as a rule, produce 4 to 12 pups least of... Chinese hamsters may become infertile is Editor on bookazines and covers a range of topics from cookery travel... Common ailments that affect hamsters include: Amyloidosis ( protein deposits in the organs ) keep... By GDPR cookie consent plugin of bedding made from paper, wood, vegetables or grain as these are.... Golden hamsters are nocturnal in captivity for 32 to 34 months and veterinary.! ( protein deposits in the organs ) 4 years on average, hamster! Reach sexual maturity at approximately 4-6 weeks of age or weigh between 90-100 grams between 90-100 grams study! They are at least five percent dietary fat and 15 percent protein Biology Letters, Vol ) led. Hamsters only tend to live between 1.5 and four years, there are no hard and fast rules to,! A rule, produce 4 to 12 pups shavings or chips, corn cob, pelleted wood vegetables!
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