Which Small Mammal Makes for the Best Pet? Hamster Wet Tail How To Spot It And What To Do Hamsters Hibernate? Fiber has been shown to help regulate lipids in hamsters, lowering their chances of heart disease. Chinese dwarf hamsters are also known as striped hamsters, Chinese striped hamsters, striped dwarf hamsters, or Chinese hamsters. Thats so sad. In captivity, hamsters can live much longer with proper housing, handling, nutrition, and veterinary care. Diets made of primarily seeds may cause nutritional deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. If you do an Internet search, you will find anecdotes from many people claiming their hamsters are living longer than the research shows. There is no consensus about the best size for a long-haired Syrian hamsters cage. There was a problem. Hamsters may also experience fur loss from nutritional deficiencies. Ill be crushed when the day comes that we lose him. 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. 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. The Syrian hamster lifespan is about 2-3 years. The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. Watch out for reduced activity, and less interest in food and/or treats. Learn how your comment data is processed. WebSyrian hamsters can live in captivity for 32 to 34 months. Add oats or similar for fiber, giving your hamster the healthiest diet possible. 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. 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 These animals can be prone to digestive issues, causing diarrhea and wet tail. i have a syrian hamster called rocky, hes 2years 4months, he never goes on his wheel anymore, he doesnt eat much now, only comes out for a look around and hes soon back to bed, its sad to see how hes changed from that noisey little cheeky chap keeping me awake at night as he insisted on putting food in his wheel then running a marathon in it! 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. Pitts, J. 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. With good care, pet hamster life expectancy ranges from 1 to 3.5 years, depending on their breed. Cages should also have a secure, tight, close-fitting door and lid to prevent escape. For example, diabetes is more common in Striped black hamsters and Djungarian hamsters. LafeberVet. Hamsters not only need exercise to stay healthy, but happy too. Cage size for one hamster should be large enough to provide a nest box, exercise wheel, and other enrichment. We purchased a female 2020. Several types of cages are excellent habitats for your furry friend. What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? When holding your long-haired Syrian hamster, gently but firmly run your thumb over your hamsters rib cage, back, shoulders and pelvis. 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. Chinese dwarf hamster lifespan on average 2 3 years. As fragile and sensitive pets, domesticated hamsters are prone to illnesses and other health conditions, which can significantly impact their lifespans. Providing a secure and quiet environment can only be of benefit. Suckow, M., Stevens, K. and Wilson, R. Elsevier Academic Press. Wild hamsters: Where do hamsters come from? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. WebUsually a hamster will live for about 2-3 years at most. Males have a pointed outline due to the descended testes, which you can see in the upright position. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Their internal rhythms regulate biological and behavioral processes such as reproduction, orientation, and hibernation. 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. AnAge: The Animal Aging and Longevity Database (2014). A Guide To Hamster Hibernation. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Pollock, Christal. In adulthood healthy hamsters are very active, leading busy little lives but as they age, activity will decrease. (Image credit: Getty Images) Diet & Nutrition. To aid in hamster longevity, avoid diets with high levels of refined sugar and low fiber. The more space your hamster has to move around, the more they will exercise and play, which is good for longevity. Hamsters reach sexual maturity at approximately 4-6 weeks of age. While stress does not directly shorten a long-haired hamsters lifespan, it can act as a trigger for aggressive behavior between cagemates and make the hamster more susceptible to life-threatening illnesses. In the wild, hamsters are targeted by predators including owls and foxes. 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. They live for an average of 3 to 3.5 years. 2010. What factors affect how long hamsters live? To avoid your hamster getting ill from germs or bacteria, clean their cage regularly. 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. Genetics are also beyond your control. When you have a hamster as a pet, then you need to be extra cautious and careful about them. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Here are some things to consider. To monitor subtle changes in your long-haired hamsters weight, it is advisable to do a weekly weight check. If the tubes are attached to the walls, make sure they are secure so your hamster does not suffer a fall and injure themselves. Make sure their enclosures are clean. This usually happens after about 15 months of their life cycle. Thats because their bodily resources must be allocated to reproduction, which means less of those resources are devoted to maintenance. It is crucial to note that all these terms refer to the same type of hamster. Gestation periods are quite short, at 20-22 days. How long do hamsters live? 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. Getting a new pet can be exciting, but how do you choose which one? What Is The Ideal Temperature For Long-Haired Hamsters? Kirkwood, T. B. L., et al (2000). Like many other animals, domesticated hamsters live longer than their wild cousins. Theyre easy to care for, and with frequent handling, they can be very docile and affectionate. The ideal temperature for a hamster is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the ideal humidity is about 40 percent. Try for at least five percent dietary fat and 15 percent protein. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. hi We know that he was owned by Karen Smeaten and lived in Tyne & Wear, but his name has not been recorded. Avoid anything too steep or convoluted. Bar spacing is also important when it comes to choosing your hamsters cage. Why is it important to find out how long hamsters live before buying one? Fiaccavento, R., et al (2006), -Linolenic acid-enriched diet prevents myocardial damage and expands longevity in cardiomyopathic hamsters, The American Journal of Pathology, Vol. Featured Image: iStock.com/Nynke van Holten. It tells you how long youll need to care for them. Some hamsters will live 1.5 years, while others might reach three. Hamsters can make great family petsas long as you keep a few things in mind. Fortunately they have a very high reproduction rate, which helps them survive. Syrian hamsters do not find themselves comfortable in this kind of caging or living, either these hamsters start getting bore and rude. Males seem to outlive females on average, which is unusual in the animal world. Hamster infants are altricial. Ran that wheel like no ones business. It is also good to provide enrichment and stimulation for your hamster by adding tubes, exercise wheels, pipes, shelters, and caves to their cage. For example, some breeds feel the cold easier than others, so avoid draughts and chilly rooms similarly, direct sunlight might be harmful. Buy a high quality hamster food to make sure that they have a complete diet. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Neurobiology of Aging published a study that examined ways to prolong mammals lives. True or not, you can give your hamster the best chance to have a healthy life whatever age it reaches by providing it with optimal care. Dilute pellet food with water to make it less solid. Please refresh the page and try again. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Make sure your hamsters cage is secure and that theyre kept away from other pets, especially when theyre outside the cage. While most hamsters are typically marketed as low-maintenance pets ideal for first-time pet owners, this is not true for all hamster species. From longest to shortest, the following are the average lifespans of the five most popular hamster species: Roborovski Hamster:3 to 3.5 yearsSyrian Hamster: 2 to 2.5 yearsCampbells Dwarf Hamster: 2 yearsChinese Hamster:1.5 to 2 yearsWinter White Russian Dwarf Hamster: 1.5 to 2 years. The European hamster, for example, can live for up to 8 years. Basic Information Sheet: Hamster. Let us know how old they are in the comments below! Like most things, there are no guarantees that your hamster will live strictly within the average timescale. You will receive a verification email shortly. Learning what normal behavior for your long-haired hamster is will allow you to notice subtle differences in your hamster behavior. Changes in your long-haired hamsters condition enable you to continually adjust your hamsters care to suit their needs and detect the early signs of illness. Golden hamsters can produce five litters a year. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Restricted food access has also helped hamsters live longer. Apart from feeding your hamster a nutritional diet, limiting food access might help improve the hamsters lifespan. 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. Like many other animals, domesticated hamsters live longer than their wild cousins. Ideally, they should not be bred until they are at least 8-12 weeks of age or weigh between 90-100 grams. Some long-haired hamsters are called teddy bear hamsters, though this is usually only used to describe long-haired Syrian hamsters. 5. 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. Golden hamsters can produce five litters a year. Certain breeds are more prone to specific ailments than others. In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. The European hamster can live up to eight years in the wild. Hi The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Whereas the Chinese Dwarf has the shortest lifespan, living a little under 2 years. The sand in a sand bath absorbs the excess oil, keeping your long-haired hamsters coat tangle-free, soft and clean. Situate the hamster enclosure dependent on the needs of your hamster. At five days, they start to grow fur. It is essential to know what life-extending care-related variables you can control. She was the one hamster ? She died last night. 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. 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. Make sure only a small number of people handle your hamster and that they all know how to do this. Although the average lifespan is 2 to 2.5 years, there are several factors that may influence how long a hamster will live. Syrian hamsters can have short or long hair (known as the teddy bear variety). 6. Pet hamsters tend to live between 1.5 and four years, although some can live longer depending on their care and the species. Russian dwarf hamster lifespan they live on average between 15 months and 2 years. How long do hamsters live? WebThe ideal environment for long-haired hamsters: Temperature: 64 F to 79 F (17 C to 26 C) Humidity: 30% to 70% Hamsters in safe enclosures that give adequate scope for exercise tend to be healthy, busy little creatures. Water bottles and food dishes should be cleaned and disinfected daily. If you are unfamiliar with these kinds of 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. Still want to know more? Read on to learn everything you need to know to give your hamster the best life possible. However, the lifespan varies depending on the type of hamster and ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 years. Of course, this applies to all pets and is as true for hamsters as it is for cats, dogs or any other animalyou choose to keep. You may see that he is losing vision, hearing, and hair. In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. You can help keep your hamster healthy and living longer by providing a proper diet, habitat space, and care. 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. WebSyrian hamsters can live in captivity for 32 to 34 months. Most pet hamsters only tend to live between 1.5 to 4 years. What do Syrian Hamsters look like? Additionally, research shows that increased intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hamster Wet Tail How To Spot It And What To Do. 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. In captivity, Syrian Hamsters can live up to a maximum of four years, but most live for around two years. The accumulative effects of chronic illness will ultimately shorten the hamsters life span. He may also stop showing interest in treats. The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. Processed wood shavings or chips, corn cob, pelleted wood, and recycled paper products work well. Cute and adorable, these little busybodies bring much joy with their engaging personalities. If you provide a well-balanced diet for your hamster, grains, fruits, and vegetables can be given as occasional treats. How to Care for a Hamster Helpful information, and top care tips, Campbells Dwarf Hamster Helpful breed guide and top care tips, Dwarf Robo Hamster Complete breed guide and 10 tips to help tame your pet, Hamster Facts A round up of interesting Hammy Titbits, Black Bear Hamster Breed Guide and Facts. As per statistics provided by the Guinness World Records, the longest-lived hamster was 4.5 years old in the United States. In the wild, hamsters will breed seasonally but in captivity, its wise to keep sexes separate unless going for hamster world domination. Chinese hamsters prolong mammals lives differences in your hamster has to move around, the lifespan varies depending on care! Important to find out how long youll need to know What life-extending care-related you. Between 90-100 grams to prevent escape other pets, especially when theyre outside the cage can be given occasional. Cautious and careful about them at 20-22 days processed wood shavings or,. 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