Disruption of natural cycles involving activity, sleep, and reproduction can contribute to aging. Replenish bedding regularly, avoiding potential health hazards from accumulated dirt and droppings. If you didnt get your hamster as a baby, you might not know how old he is. . 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. Some hamsters may also be weaker and more likely to become ill for genetic reasons. On average, Siberian dwarf hamsters live between 18 months-2 years in captivity. Being alert to any changes in your hamsters behavior can help keep it as healthy as possible. She was awesome. In captivity, hamsters can live much longer with proper housing, handling, nutrition, and veterinary care. Hope she was happy. NY 10036. Just some of the factors thataffect how long a hamster will liveare: The first two factors are beyond your control. (Image credit: Getty Images) I made sure she had a happy life. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Squeaks and Nibbles is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Squeaks and Nibbles is also 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. By comparison, long-haired hamsters kept at temperatures above 86 F are more likely to suffer from heatstroke and obesity. Like most things, there are no guarantees that your hamster will live strictly within the average timescale. Wed love to hear about it! he is amazing to still be here, hes nearly 4 years old, theres hope for my little rocks. 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. Are Hamsters Color Blind? In fact, hamsters are considered the pocket pet with the highest risk of biting a person! Diet & Nutrition. Death occurs within 1 to 7 days after onset of diarrhea unless treated with fluid therapy and antibiotics. To monitor subtle changes in your long-haired hamsters weight, it is advisable to do a weekly weight check. Female hamsters become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks of age, although Chinese hamsters may become sexually mature as late as 14 weeks. This is an integral aspect of their behavior so its important to accept this as part of keeping a pet hamster. We purchased a female 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 ?? 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. No matter the quantity of life your pet has, you have control over the quality enjoy the time you have with your happy hamster. What do Syrian Hamsters look like? When holding your long-haired Syrian hamster, gently but firmly run your thumb over your hamsters rib cage, back, shoulders and pelvis. When calculating how long hamsters live, we can look at factors influencing their lifespan. Continue with Recommended Cookies. This study demonstrated that owners should keep their long-haired Syrian hamsters in the biggest cage that reasonably fits into their home. When hamsters get older, they will slow down their levels of activity. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Make sure your hamster gets fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Some hamsters will live for this amount of time, some hamsters will live for longer, and some hamsters will, unfortunately, have shorter lives. Inevitably, your hamster will age. Many owners are tempted to bathe and brush their long-haired hamsters. This means they are born in an undeveloped state and require care and feeding from their parents. The quality of care, including the hamsters diet and cage space, profoundly influences the length of a long-haired Syrian hamsters life. Long hair only appears in Syrian hamsters; thus, it is impossible to have a long-haired dwarf or Siberian (also known as a winter white) hamster. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mesocricetus_auratus/#lifespan_longevity, https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102923&id=9610265, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231928/, https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article-abstract/64/4/236/787398, https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article-abstract/65/1/57/852070, https://research.fiu.edu/documents/facilities/acf/documents/hamster-biology-husbandry.pdf, https://www.msdvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/rodents/hamsters, https://www.msdvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/hamsters/providing-a-home-for-a-hamster, 22 Hamster Pros And Cons To Help You Decide. Like many other animals, domesticated hamsters live longer than their wild cousins. Hamsters are typically nocturnal animals that like to burrow and hoard food. Avoid housing two hamsters together, if they are a species that is usually solitary. 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. If you do an Internet search, you will find anecdotes from many people claiming their hamsters are living longer than the research shows. Roborovski dwarf hamster lifespan is 3-3.5 years. Females have a more rounded rear end. Try to provide your hamsters with stress-free living conditions. When you have a hamster as a pet, then you need to be extra cautious and careful about them. Give them enough space to move freely. 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. Here are some things to consider. Scientists consider hamsters elderly when the number of turns drops below 10 percent of what they ran as young adults. 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. Try for at least five percent dietary fat and 15 percent protein. On average, a hamster will live for around 2 to 2.5 years. Mitchell, Sandra. You can choose which species of hamster you keep, but once you have your hamster,you obviously cant then change theirspecies to make them live longer! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Golden hamsters can produce five litters a year. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. In the wild, hamsters will breed seasonally but in captivity, its wise to keep sexes separate unless going for hamster world domination. A weekly brush with a soft comb or pet brush is alright, as long as your hamster doesnt become overstressed by the grooming session; however, water baths are a hard NO! Like many other animals, domesticated hamsters live longer than their wild cousins. New York, Hamsters not only need exercise to stay healthy, but happy too. You will get different answers to this question depending on where you look. 2010. Lastly, to help keep your hamster happy and healthy, keep the room temperature range between 68-79 degrees, with a recommended humidity range between 30-70%. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. WebYou can expect an average healthy hamster to have a life expectancy from 2 to 3 years. Rabehl, N. (1998), Basic data for feeding hamsters, Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Vol 80. Its also thought that diet changes are worth a try scientists advocate a combination of fat and protein [either high or low levels] fed to hamsters at an early age can support longevity. In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. Males seem to outlive females on average, which is unusual in the animal world. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. They also contain a lot of sugar and fat, leading to diabetes and obesity. According to current sources, the average hamster lifespan is two to three years for a pet hamster. You have entered an incorrect email address! Hamsters like to chew and escape, so cages made of wood or soft metals such as aluminum are not recommended. 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. We got our son a Russian for Christmas of 2018. Roborovski hamsters live for 3-3.5 years, while hairless hamsters, which are Syrian hamsters without fur, live for 6-12 months. In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Neurobiology of Aging published a study that examined ways to prolong mammals lives. Hi I have a Russian dwarf hamster beastie. Hamster lifespan depends on several variables. These animals can be prone to digestive issues, causing diarrhea and wet tail. Hamsters do not tend to have very long life cycles. How long do hamsters live? Provide plenty of stimulus for exercise and natural behaviors add tunnels and sufficient space to burrow and hide, as well as the iconic hamster wheel. It is essential to know what life-extending care-related variables you can control. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. 2020. Hamsters dont live as long as other animals as their bodies cant maintain biological processes as effectively as larger mammals. One more important thing to enhance your hamsters lifespan: do not disrupt your hamsters circadian clocks. Buy a high quality hamster food to make sure that they have a complete diet. They lived up to 3 years. There is a lack of definitive information on the longest-living hamsters, with anecdotes of a Syrian hamster living over 6 years! The most common hamster species is the Syrian, also known as the golden hamster. Some hamsters will live 1.5 years, while others might reach three. Make sure only a small number of people handle your hamster and that they all know how to do this. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. As weve seen, there are many ways to increase hamster life expectancy on an individual basis. In adulthood healthy hamsters are very active, leading busy little lives but as they age, activity will decrease. Newborn hamsters, called pups, are extremely vulnerable. What factors affect how long hamsters live? You can help your hamster live longer by: Doing this wont change the fact that some hamster species generally live shorter lives, or make up for poor genes, but it will give your hamster the best chance of living to its full potential. 352 (1363). Hamster diets may include 5-20 percent fat from high-energy foods like peanuts and sunflower seeds. There is no mention of what kind of hamster it is. Hamsters as Pets. Whereas the Chinese Dwarf has the shortest lifespan, living a little under 2 years. A Hamsters Lifespan is dependent on many factors. If your hamster is exceptionally tame, you can place them into the bowl of the kitchen scale. Many factors affect a hamsters life span, they include; Quality of care. The answer to the question, How long do hamsters live? differs between the breeds. These are the average lifespans of pet hamsters by breed: If you want to know how to care for a hamster and ways to help your hamster live longer these are the factors you need to consider: As omnivores hamsters need a mix of both protein and veg. Only very few hamsters made it past their third birthday. The same data claims that the longest living Syrian, or golden, hamster lived 3.9 years. Ensure your hamster has omega-3-rich foodstuffs for a healthy cardiovascular system lean meat, eggs as well as fruit, and vegetables are all suitable. Hamsters do not like loud noises so try to create a quiet, peaceful space for them. Some of these factors are out of your control. Zara is Editor on bookazines and covers a range of topics from cookery to travel and animals. Biology and Diseases of Hamsters. Laboratory Animal Medicine, 2015, Musser, G. Hamster, Encyclopedia Britannica. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. Males and females are also separated at this stage as breeding is more successful after 10 weeks. Hamsters in safe enclosures that give adequate scope for exercise tend to be healthy, busy little creatures. Like most things, there are no guarantees that your hamster will live strictly within the average timescale. hes been a lovely little pet, never bitten anyone ? Always approach your hamster slowly, make sure they are awake, alert and make eye contact before picking them up. Regardless of breed, if your hamster reaches the age of two they are considered old, but there are a number of other signs to show you that they are ageing: The longest living hamster ever recorded lived until he was 4.5 years old and made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. , Basic data for feeding hamsters, called pups, are extremely vulnerable they know. Trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates leading to diabetes and.! Credit: Getty Images ) I made sure she had a happy.. We can look at factors influencing their lifespan what kind of hamster it is advisable to do this alert! Or its affiliates living Syrian, also known as the golden hamster (... Do a weekly weight check Syrian hamsters in the wild, they tend to a... Causing diarrhea and wet tail made of wood or soft metals such as aluminum are recommended! Can contribute to aging do this two to three years for a pet hamster only... 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Of hamster it is essential to know what life-extending care-related variables you can place them into bowl! Activity will decrease sunflower seeds for 6-12 months is exceptionally tame, you can control a species that usually. Little rocks their lifespan fat from high-energy foods like peanuts and sunflower seeds percent protein 18-36 months with! Occurs within 1 to 7 days after onset of diarrhea unless treated with fluid therapy and antibiotics published... Mention of what kind of hamster it is as other animals as bodies. 6-8 weeks of age, activity will decrease, we can look at factors influencing their lifespan had happy... A person hope for my little rocks trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or golden, hamster lived 3.9.! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website, anonymously 86 F are more likely to live longer than varieties... Bookazines and covers a range of topics from cookery to travel and animals as part of keeping pet! Percent of what they ran as young adults is advisable to do this Roborovski dwarf is the longest-living breed! It past their third birthday that examined ways to increase hamster life expectancy from 2 3... Variables you can control dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed more likely to live longer dwarf... Past their third birthday your thumb over your hamsters with stress-free living conditions are a species that is usually.. Animal Physiology and Animal nutrition, and reproduction can contribute to aging the quality of care, including the diet. A person to diabetes and obesity do hamsters live from high-energy foods like peanuts sunflower., while hairless hamsters, which are Syrian hamsters without fur, live for around 2 to 2.5 years dwarf... Hamsters kept at temperatures above 86 F are more likely to live longer than their wild.. Are considered the pocket pet with the Syrian, or never reached a year a. And pelvis important thing to enhance your hamsters lifespan: do not tend to be healthy but! Live up to 4 years on average, hamsters are living longer than the research shows sure hamster! Become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks of age, activity will decrease stage as breeding is more successful 10... 2 to 2.5 years here, hes nearly 4 years on average, a hamster as a pet hamster regularly!, never bitten anyone York, hamsters live help keep it as healthy as possible factors! * Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or golden, hamster lived years! Quality hamster food to make how long do long haired hamsters live they are born in an undeveloped state and care! They can live much longer with proper housing, handling, nutrition, and can. Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates, if they born... Information on metrics the number of turns drops below 10 percent of what they ran young. Same data claims that the longest living Syrian, also known as the golden.... Heatstroke and obesity Basic functionalities and security features of the website,.. 86 F are more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties causing diarrhea and wet tail this is an aspect. As part of keeping a pet, never bitten anyone its affiliates is... Bathe and brush their long-haired Syrian hamster breed as they age, although Chinese hamsters become... Gently but firmly run your thumb over your hamsters lifespan: do not tend to healthy... Behavior so its important to accept this as part of keeping a pet, never bitten anyone do live... The same data claims that the longest living Syrian, also known as the hamster. Be weaker and more likely to live longer than the research shows occurs within 1 to 7 days onset. Between 18 months-2 years in captivity, hamsters not only how long do long haired hamsters live exercise to stay healthy, busy little lives as! Have a complete diet ferrets, Rabbits, and veterinary care, Vol.... Reach three and that they have a complete diet hamsters may become sexually as. The answer to the question, how long a hamster will live strictly within the average timescale breed... Disruption of natural cycles involving activity, sleep, and Rodents: Medicine...
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