Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Birds and Exotic Pets. Hamsters thrive in clean, well-ventilated environments. Species Hamster Leash: Is It An Accessory Worth Considering? The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. This usually happens after about 15 months of their life cycle. Processed wood shavings or chips, corn cob, pelleted wood, and recycled paper products work well. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. Scientists have found that hamsters fed either low levels of both fat and protein or high levels of both fat and protein early in life lived longest. Hamsters make wonderful pets, especially for children, but the downside to having these furry friends as playmates is that they have quite a short life expectancy. Getting a new pet can be exciting, but how do you choose which one? 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. Mitchell, Sandra. Alternatively, you can put your hamster in a container and weigh the container and hamster together. You will receive a verification email shortly. You can also get climbing toys and monitor playtime outside their cage. Certain foods such as iceberg lettuce, peanuts and citrus fruits should also be avoided to keep your hamster healthy. How To Judge A Long-Haired Hamsters Condition? AnAge: The Animal Aging and Longevity Database (2014). How long do hamsters live? What do Syrian Hamsters look like? Hamsters get dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, and oats. 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. This is an average of all breeds, though some dwarf hamsters rarely exceed a 2 year life expectancy. It is also good to provide enrichment and stimulation for your hamster by adding tubes, exercise wheels, pipes, shelters, and caves to their cage. She would have been 1 year and one months in December. What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? Whereas the Chinese Dwarf has the shortest lifespan, living a little under 2 years. (Image credit: Getty Images) 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. Syrian hamsters can have short or long hair (known as the teddy bear variety). Pet hamsters tend to live between 1.5 and four years, although some can live longer depending on their care and the species. Continue with Recommended Cookies. On average, a hamster will live for around 2.5 years. Chinese dwarf hamster lifespan on average 2 3 years. Proliferative Ileitis is most common in stressed, juvenile, and weanling long-haired hamsters and is caused by an overgrowth of Lawsons bacteria in the hamsters small intestines. What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? 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. Disruption of natural cycles involving activity, sleep, and reproduction can contribute to aging. Most hamsters have an average lifespan of about 2 to 3 years. The most common hamster species is the Syrian, also known as the golden hamster. How long do hamster live depending on their species? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If they are crepuscular, they are most active at dawn and dusk. In captivity, the average lifespan for a long-haired Syrian hamster is approximately 2yrs, with a few exceptionally long-lived individuals making it to 4yrs old. Syrian hamsters are also known as golden hamsters or teddy bear hamsters. Siberian dwarf hamster lifespan from 18 months to 2 years. At a minimum, enclosures should be sanitized once every two weeks, and all the bedding should be changed. Like most things, there are no guarantees that your hamster will live strictly within the average timescale. Diets made of primarily seeds may cause nutritional deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Because they arent long-lived, hamsters move through their life stages rather quickly. If you do an Internet search, you will find anecdotes from many people claiming their hamsters are living longer than the research shows. 2013. Make sure only a small number of people handle your hamster and that they all know how to do this. 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. She only started getting grey 3 months ago. Make things easier by placing food bowls and water near your hamster, in case their sight, smell, and vision are affected. Long-haired Syrian hamsters are not difficult to feed, but you may choose to exclude some of the messy fruit treats. The hamsters fur should be free of fecal matter, tangles, and matts, with no excessive thinning or balding in any parts unless it is a lactating female. Add oats or similar for fiber, giving your hamster the healthiest diet possible. 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. Infant hamsters are weaned at about 3-4 weeks. According to Mercks Veterinary Manual, the minimum cage height for long-haired Syrian hamsters is 6. 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. Tubes and tunnels can be dangerous if theyre not kept simple. Roborovskis hamster lifespan relatively long-lived at 3 to 3.5 years. In the wild, hamsters will breed seasonally but in captivity, its wise to keep sexes separate unless going for hamster world domination. (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? Once hamsters are sexually mature, you can tell which is which by looking at their rear ends while the hamsters are vertically held with head facing up. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. Males have a pointed outline due to the descended testes, which you can see in the upright position. Get the best advice, tips and top tech for your beloved Pets. If you are unfamiliar with these kinds of A Detailed Answer, Susceptibility to diseases, e.g., wet tail, Temperature: 64 F to 79 F (17 C to 26 C), The quality of their care, including diet and cage space, Duration, frequency, and severity of chronic and acute stress levels, Fed a balanced diet, free of excessively messy or wet fruit treats. Theyre one of the most popular breeds. Long-haired hamsters require an intermediate level of care as they are more susceptible to conditions like wet tail, fungal infections, and hyperthermia. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 2000. Why at only 1 year old ? Hamsters love to run and will happily do so for hours. We purchased a female Replenish bedding regularly, avoiding potential health hazards from accumulated dirt and droppings. No matter the quantity of life your pet has, you have control over the quality enjoy the time you have with your happy hamster. Many long-haired hamsters learn to tolerate being handled, and some even learn to enjoy cuddling with their owners. In captivity, Syrian Hamsters can live up to a maximum of four years, but most live for around two years. Should I Get Pet Insurance For My Hamster? Then use two hands (make sure youve washed them) one beneath them and one above them to ensure they are safe. Make sure their enclosures are clean. Once hamsters are sexually mature, you can tell which is which by looking at their rear ends while the hamsters are vertically held with So, its important to find out: how long do hamsters live? WebUsually a hamster will live for about 2-3 years at most. The last factor influencing a long-haired Syrian hamsters lifespan is its health history; even the most conscientious owners cannot always prevent their hamsters from falling ill. 2020. Former editor of World of Animals magazine, she has over 8 years of experience in publishing inspiring children and adults about the wonders of the animal kingdom as well as teaching them about their pets. Whereas the Chinese Dwarf has the shortest lifespan, living a little under 2 years. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Zara is Editor on bookazines and covers a range of topics from cookery to travel and animals. They live for an average of 3 to 3.5 years. Once your hamster gets older, they will need some extra care to help them to be comfortable and happy. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. At two weeks, they open their eyes. This is usually less in the wild. The quality of care, including the hamsters diet and cage space, profoundly influences the length of a long-haired Syrian hamsters life. Hamster lifespan depends on several variables. Genetics. However, hamster lifespans are a good deal shorter than some other common household critters, so this is good to take into account when youre welcoming a new hamster into your house. They can get omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fruits, grains, vegetables, lean cuts of meat, and eggs. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Dilute pellet food with water to make it less solid. Heres how it works. My Hamster Has A Tumor How Long Until She Dies? A long-haired hamsters coat requires more care and consideration than a short-haired hamsters. Hamsters as Pets. Some of these factors are out of your control. There are a number of foods that are toxic to hamsters including chocolate, onions and garlic, potatoes and tomato leaves. On average, a hamster will live for around 2 to 2.5 years. Its no secret why hamsters are so popular as pets. There is a lack of definitive information on the longest-living hamsters, with anecdotes of a Syrian hamster living over 6 years! Changes in their circadian rhythms can indicate aging and illness. Mayer, J. and Donnelly, T. Elsevier Health Sciences. Long-haired hamsters are the descendants of the notoriously solitary Syrian hamsters and share their aversion to hamster companions. 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! There was a problem. As tiny creatures, hamsters typically live around 2 to 3 years. However, it is essential to remember to deduct the weight of the container to find out what your long-haired hamster weighs. Their use of the wheel is considered a reasonable gauge of where they are in the life cycle in other words, fewer wheel turns suggest the hamster is indeed feeling their age. Roborovski hamsters live for 3-3.5 years, while hairless hamsters, which are Syrian hamsters without fur, live for 6-12 months. Do Long-Haired Hamsters Need A Companion? The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. Avoid plastic toys. Let us know how old they are in the comments below! 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. Copyright 2021 TheHamsterHouse.com, all rights reserved. Hamsters may also experience fur loss from nutritional deficiencies. Last year, 2 weeks ago she just started How To Tame A Hamster: 10 Safe And Proven Tips, Hamster Skin Infection: Essential Basics To Know, How To Bathe A Hamster 10 Safe Cleaning Tips, Do Hamsters Need Shots? These include the genes they inherit from their parents, environmental factors, chance, and lifestyle. Fiaccavento, R., et al (2006), -Linolenic acid-enriched diet prevents myocardial damage and expands longevity in cardiomyopathic hamsters, The American Journal of Pathology, Vol. That your hamster, in case their sight, smell, and hyperthermia and. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this.. Webusually a hamster will live strictly within the average timescale tail, infections! Tail, fungal infections, and reproduction can contribute to aging level of care, including hamsters! 3.5 years as Pets or long hair ( known as the golden.. May cause nutritional deficiencies us know how old they are safe more care and consideration than short-haired... Even learn to tolerate being handled, and reproduction can contribute to aging kept... Let us know how to do this accumulated dirt and droppings, a hamster will for... 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