How long do hamsters live? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Hamsters as Pets. Long-haired hamsters are a product of an autosomal recessive gene mutation that spontaneously occurred in pet hamsters. 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. 4 (3). By about 14 months of age, hamsters are no longer able to breed. His weight and food intake will fluctuate and be less consistent. Hamsters love to run and will happily do so for hours. One way of gauging this is by noting how many turns hamsters make on their wheel. Prompt treatment is often the difference between survival and death for ill long-haired hamsters. As per statistics provided by the Guinness World Records, the longest-lived hamster was 4.5 years old in the United States. Try to keep his environment quiet, and try not to surprise him when you go to handle him. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, You will get different answers to this question depending on where you look. Like many other animals, domesticated hamsters live longer than their wild cousins. My Hamster Has A Tumor How Long Until She Dies? Gestation periods are quite short, at 20-22 days. LafeberVet. Here are some things to consider. Yes hes looking a bit older. A change in your hamsters diet may help increase his lifespan. At birth, they are blind and deaf with no fur. Hamsters also need plenty of space to move around. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. 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. On average, a hamster will live for around 2.5 years. In smaller mammals, maintenance of these biological processes is less effective than with larger ones. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. However, it is equally important to acknowledge that not all factors affecting your hamsters longevity can be managed; try not to blame yourself if, despite your best efforts, your hamster is not long-lived. Pre-emptive veterinary care may prevent problems from arising regular checks are recommended. Manydifferent factors affect hamster lifespan and how long your own pet hamster lives will depend on these factors. This is unusual in animals, but may be because hamsters have a foregut that modifies fat before it is absorbed in the gut. 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. Theyre easy to care for, and with frequent handling, they can be very docile and affectionate. He may also stop showing interest in treats. In the wild, hamsters are targeted by predators including owls and foxes. The most common hamster species is the Syrian, also known as the golden hamster. A female hamster can become pregnant again 24 hours after birth. Some claim that the oldest Syrian hamster on record actually lived to 6.5 years. Brown, Susan. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. However, data scientifically gathered from zoo collections puts the maximum lifespan of a striped dwarf hamster at 5.3 years. Ran that wheel like no ones business. The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents. Female hamsters become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks of age, although Chinese hamsters may become sexually mature as late as 14 weeks. There are usually 4-12 hamsters in a litter, depending on which breed they are. Species Its no secret why hamsters are so popular as pets. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If you are unfamiliar with these kinds of Her latest first edition, What Your Dog Wants You To Know, is the ultimate guide to understanding your dogs body language. Some hamsters will have inherited genes from their parent and grandparents that helpthem to live a long life, while other hamsters will have inherited genes that lead to a shorter lifespan. Mitchell, Sandra. Kirkwood, T. B. L., et al (2000). If you are unfamiliar with these kinds of Additionally, research shows that increased intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. As per statistics provided by the Guinness World Records, the longest-lived hamster was 4.5 years old in the United States. (Image credit: Getty Images) Even hamsters. Why at only 1 year old ? Veterinary Partner. Several types of cages are excellent habitats for your furry friend. What Is The Ideal Temperature For Long-Haired Hamsters? Syrian hamsters commonly suffer from heart disease, amyloidosis, and pneumonia. WebThe average hamster lifespan is relatively short, around 1-2 years, but they can live up to 5 years. Learn how your comment data is processed. Like all other animals, there is no fixed amount of time that a hamster will live for. Only very few hamsters made it past their third birthday. Some hamsters, however, can live for up to 4 years. And find out how to help our hamsters live as long and happy a life as possible. Hamsters dont live as long as other animals as their bodies cant maintain biological processes as effectively as larger mammals. Thank you for signing up to Petsradar. It's worth mentioning here that the Wild European Hamster can live for up to 8 years. Shes the happiest hamster in the whole world and still sleeps like a baby xx. Hamster lifespan depends on several variables. 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. 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. Many factors affect a hamsters life span, they include; Quality of care. A Hamster Can Live for Around 24 Years With Proper Care. The more space your hamster has to move around, the more they will exercise and play, which is good for longevity. Well get into specifics on individual breeds a little later on in this article. The average hamster lifespan: How long do hamsters live? Do Long-Haired Hamsters Need A Companion? In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. Some hamsters may also be weaker and more likely to become ill for genetic reasons. The Syrian hamster, for example, generally lives between 2-3 years, but can live longer in captivity. 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. Hamsters do not like loud noises so try to create a quiet, peaceful space for them. 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. They can get omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fruits, grains, vegetables, lean cuts of meat, and eggs. Hi She was the one hamster ? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hi I have a Russian dwarf hamster beastie. Many prospective buyers are confused by what constitutes a long-haired hamster. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Generally, hamsters kept as pets will be most active at dawn/dusk and during the night. Life Expectancies for 10 Popular Unique Pets, Parents Guide to Selecting a Small Pet for Children. 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 To aid in hamster longevity, avoid diets with high levels of refined sugar and low fiber. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Hamsters typically live one to two years, but can live up to three years in captivity. The Robo Dwarf hamster or Roborovski dwarf hamster is the smallest breed of hamster, yet have a very good life expectancy. The life expectancy of a hamster is short, in part because they live in high-risk environments where procreation is very important to a species survival. Veterinary Partner. Changes in their circadian rhythms can indicate aging and illness. They have also been known to move their young by storing infants in their cheek pouches. Apart from feeding your hamster a nutritional diet, limiting food access might help improve the hamsters lifespan. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Add oats or similar for fiber, giving your hamster the healthiest diet possible. Please refresh the page and try again. Let us know how old they are in the comments below! Exposure to feces and other bacteria through dirty bedding can make them more prone to sickness. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Generally, hamsters stay with their mothers until they are 21 to 28 days old. The best way to ensure they get enough exercise is to buy them a hamster wheel for their cage. You can extend the average lifespan of a hamster by giving your pet excellent care, housing it properly, and doing what you can to avoid sickness. Check for signs of stress to ensure a healthy environment. Syrian hamsters can have short or long hair (known as the teddy bear variety). Long-haired hamsters are the descendants of the notoriously solitary Syrian hamsters and share their aversion to hamster companions. Many people, particularly unknowledgeable or unscrupulous pet shops, may falsely advertise a hamster as long-haired; it is common to see hamsters being marketed as: Long-haired hamsters are occasionally known as teddy bear, angora, and fancy hamsters, although the most common terms used are long-haired and teddy bear.. Ill be crushed when the day comes that we lose him. Touch is another method to check a long-haired Syrian hamsters body condition. Diet & Nutrition. 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%. Parents Guide to Selecting a Small Pet for Children. Situate the hamster enclosure dependent on the needs of your hamster. Is a long-haired hamster a specific breed of hamster, or can a long-haired hamster be any hamster breed? 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. Read on to learn everything you need to know to give your hamster the best life possible. Which Small Mammal Makes for the Best Pet? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". When calling a hamster a long-haired teddy bear hamster, it is not incorrect, but it is redundant to use the terms long-haired and teddy bear in the same hamster description. 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. 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. Fiber has been shown to help regulate lipids in hamsters, lowering their chances of heart disease. WebThe average hamster lifespan is relatively short, around 1-2 years, but they can live up to 5 years. Fortunately they have a very high reproduction rate, which helps them survive. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. On average, a hamster will live for around 2 to 2.5 years. Genetics are also beyond your control. Russian dwarf hamster lifespan they live on average between 15 months and 2 years. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. Males seem to outlive females on average, which is unusual in the animal world. Weve already mentioned that some hamster species live longer than others, so youre probably wondering which type of hamsterhas the longest lifespan! Quesenberry, K., Orcutt, C., Mans, C. and Carpenter, J. Elsevier. The accumulative effects of chronic illness will ultimately shorten the hamsters life span. Make sure your hamsters cage is secure and that theyre kept away from other pets, especially when theyre outside the cage. My 1.5y.o. All sorts of thoughts, Welcoming a new hamster into your family is always exciting. WebSyrian hamsters can live in captivity for 32 to 34 months. 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