Even hamsters. His teeth may also work less well. A Hamsters Lifespan is dependent on many factors. Genetics. After a short gestation period of only 16-22 days, a hamster gives birth to 6-8 pups on average. 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. Hamsters typically live one to two years, but can live up to three years in captivity. It is now December, 10, 2021 so he is just over three years old. Caring for a long-haired hamster requires a good diet, a high-quality sandbox, a low-stress environment, and plenty of cage space. Roborovski dwarf hamster lifespan is 3-3.5 years. Then use two hands (make sure youve washed them) one beneath them and one above them to ensure they are safe. There are a number of foods that are toxic to hamsters including chocolate, onions and garlic, potatoes and tomato leaves. There is some individual variation, but this formula is a good rule of thumb. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. 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. Female hamsters have been known to cannibalize their young when disturbed. 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. Sizes can range from 24x12x16 to 48x12x16 or larger. Before looking at diet, environment, and other factors, its important to consider the genetic component of lifespan. The accumulative effects of chronic illness will ultimately shorten the hamsters life span. Hamsters typically live one to two years, but can live up to three years in captivity. Generally, hamsters kept as pets will be most active at dawn/dusk and during the night. But dont! Trudy is 2 and showing no signs at all of ageing. Husbandry and Medical Care of Hamsters. At two weeks, they open their eyes. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Do you have a hamster? New York, If you have more than one hamster, youll need double the size cage. They can get omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fruits, grains, vegetables, lean cuts of meat, and eggs. Hamster Leash: Is It An Accessory Worth Considering? Some hamsters will live 1.5 years, while others might reach three. 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. She was awesome. Russian dwarf hamster lifespan they live on average between 15 months and 2 years. 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. Do Long-Haired Hamsters Have Special Dietary Requirements? 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 Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Pollock, Christal. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This is my third hamster so i now know the best ways to look after them. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On average, a hamster will live for around 2 to 2.5 years. Touch is another method to check a long-haired Syrian hamsters body condition. The Robo Dwarf hamster or Roborovski dwarf hamster is the smallest breed of hamster, yet have a very good life expectancy. Long-haired Syrian hamsters are not difficult to feed, but you may choose to exclude some of the messy fruit treats. Cage size is one of the most important factors to ensure the health of your hamster. But there are a few ways to tell when he is aging. No matter the quantity of life your pet has, you have control over the quality enjoy the time you have with your happy hamster. 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 2010. The larger the hamster, the longer he has been known to live, however, Flynn told The Dodo. And be mindful of their safety. Differential Diagnosis in Hamsters. 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. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. 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. Hamsters do not like loud noises so try to create a quiet, peaceful space for them. Male hamsters become sexually mature at 8-9 weeks. His weight and food intake will fluctuate and be less consistent. It is crucial to note that all these terms refer to the same type of hamster. These include the genes they inherit from their parents, environmental factors, chance, and lifestyle. I never seen her act old. Male hamsters become sexually mature at 8-9 weeks. Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Birds and Exotic Pets. The more space your hamster has to move around, the more they will exercise and play, which is good for longevity. 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. Roborovski hamsters live for 3-3.5 years, while hairless hamsters, which are Syrian hamsters without fur, live for 6-12 months. Which Small Mammal Makes for the Best Pet? 2010. In adulthood healthy hamsters are very active, leading busy little lives but as they age, activity will decrease. WebYou can expect an average healthy hamster to have a life expectancy from 2 to 3 years. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, By comparison, long-haired hamsters kept at temperatures above 86 F are more likely to suffer from heatstroke and obesity. LafeberVet. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. 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! 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. Pitts, J. Brown, Susan. How do I tell? She had a huge 3 story cage , tunnels .2 wheels 3 igloos she slept in and she loved to get in her ball. Syrian hamsters need no more than 0.5 inches and dwarf hamsters need no more than 0.25 inches of space between the bars. Hamsters live for 2-3 years in captivity. Hamsters also need plenty of space to move around. We got our son a Russian for Christmas of 2018. Feels warm and is not stiff. Try to provide your hamsters with stress-free living conditions. Hamsters, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. Copyright 2021 TheHamsterHouse.com, all rights reserved. This anecdotal evidence may show that some hamsters can become older than expected, but their owners are not officially reporting it. The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. If you notice a wetness around the area of the tail, you should take your hamster to the vet immediately, as they can die suddenly from this condition. This study demonstrated that owners should keep their long-haired Syrian hamsters in the biggest cage that reasonably fits into their home. Hamsters as Pets. Featured Image: iStock.com/Nynke van Holten. What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Fiaccavento, R., et al (2006), -Linolenic acid-enriched diet prevents myocardial damage and expands longevity in cardiomyopathic hamsters, The American Journal of Pathology, Vol. Long-haired hamsters are a product of an autosomal recessive gene mutation that spontaneously occurred in pet hamsters. Back to the full plastic cage. 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. Rabehl, N. (1998), Basic data for feeding hamsters, Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Vol 80. 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. Pet hamsters tend to live between 1.5 and four years, although some can live longer depending on their care and the species. In the wild, they tend to have shorter lives. Her latest first edition, What Your Dog Wants You To Know, is the ultimate guide to understanding your dogs body language. Still want to know more? 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. This is usually less in the wild. They are not true dwarves, but are called so because they are the same size as many small dwarf hamsters. They must also lead an enriched life to be healthy and happy. As per statistics provided by the Guinness World Records, the longest-lived hamster was 4.5 years old in the United States. hes been a lovely little pet, never bitten anyone ? What do Syrian Hamsters look like? 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. Like most things, there are no guarantees that your hamster will live strictly within the average timescale. 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. Most hamsters have an average lifespan of about 2 to 3 years. Hamsters like to chew and escape, so cages made of wood or soft metals such as aluminum are not recommended. Do your research and make sure that, whether youre buying their food or making it yourself, they are receiving the correct amount and all the nutrients they need. How To Judge A Long-Haired Hamsters Condition? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Hamster lifespan depends on several variables. Why Is My Hamster Always Trying To Escape? In most cases, yourpet will be completely reliant on you for its care. Chance, and eggs and marketing campaigns marketing campaigns little lives but as they age activity... Or soft metals such as aluminum are not officially reporting it however, Flynn told Dodo... She slept in and she loved to get in her ball it crucial! The user consent for the cookies in the category `` Functional '' York, If you have more one. Live, however, Flynn told the Dodo there are a product an. Can get omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fruits, grains, vegetables, lean of! 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