An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. But dont! However, it is essential to remember to deduct the weight of the container to find out what your long-haired hamster weighs. One way of gauging this is by noting how many turns hamsters make on their wheel. Some claim that the oldest Syrian hamster on record actually lived to 6.5 years. Species 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. Hamster infants are altricial. Genetics. The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. Make sure your hamsters cage is secure and that theyre kept away from other pets, especially when theyre outside the cage. If you have a pet hamster or are looking to get one, its important to understand how to care for them and what factors will ensure they live a healthier, longer life including their breed, where they live, what you feed them and how you care for them. . 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. Near death? Hamsters dont live as long as other animals as their bodies cant maintain biological processes as effectively as larger mammals. Hamsters like to chew and escape, so cages made of wood or soft metals such as aluminum are not recommended. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. There is a lack of definitive information on the longest-living hamsters, with anecdotes of a Syrian hamster living over 6 years! What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? As well as feeding them the right food, its important not to overfeed your hamster. It is essential to minimize your long-haired hamsters stress when handling them; a stressed hamster is not only more likely to bite, but chronic stress can make the hamster vulnerable to health issues. What Makes Some Hamsters Live Longer Than Others? 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. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. Unlike other hamsters, it can be challenging to visually judge a fuzzy Syrian hamsters body condition, and thus, it is more reliable to do a manual examination. In captivity, hamsters can live much longer with proper housing, handling, nutrition, and veterinary care. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These include the genes they inherit from their parents, environmental factors, chance, and lifestyle. Hamsters thrive in clean, well-ventilated environments. While hamsters may not live as long as other pets such as cats or dogs, these fun little critters can still make wonderful companions for any household. Its not always necessary to fill their food dish with food if its empty as hamsters tend to hide food. 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. Male hamsters become sexually mature at 8-9 weeks. Wild hamsters: Where do hamsters come from? Make sure you know the best ways to keep your hamster happy, including researching the best hamster cages and toys for your pocket pal, as well as providing the best nutrition and knowing the signs of stress in hamsters. No matter the quantity of life your pet has, you have control over the quality enjoy the time you have with your happy hamster. A long-haired hamsters coat requires more care and consideration than a short-haired hamsters. A Syrian hamster, for example, requires two teaspoons of food a day; a dwarf hamster needs just one teaspoon. 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. The lifespan of a long-haired Syrian hamster is determined by their: No long-haired hamsters live in the wild, as the mutation causing long-hair first occurred in captive-bred hamsters; thus, it is impossible to say how long a wild long-haired hamster would live. A change in your hamsters diet may help increase his lifespan. Always try and tailor it to your hamsters specific needs. Surprisingly wild hamsters can live for longer. Nocturnal hamsters are active at night. Chinese dwarf hamster lifespan on average 2 3 years. What Is The Ideal Cage For Long-Haired Hamsters? Syrian hamsters are also known as golden hamsters or teddy bear hamsters. To aid in hamster longevity, avoid diets with high levels of refined sugar and low fiber. Here are some things to consider. However they have a shorter average life expectancy than pet hamsters as their young are often killed by predators. Before looking at diet, environment, and other factors, its important to consider the genetic component of lifespan. The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. Some long-haired hamsters are called teddy bear hamsters, though this is usually only used to describe long-haired Syrian hamsters. Roborovski hamsters live for 3-3.5 years, while hairless hamsters, which are Syrian hamsters without fur, live for 6-12 months. Roborovski hamsters are also known as Robo dwarf hamsters or Roborovski dwarf hamsters. 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. Female hamsters become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks of age, although Chinese hamsters may become sexually mature as late as 14 weeks. If you do an Internet search, you will find anecdotes from many people claiming their hamsters are living longer than the research shows. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Owners caring for long-haired Syrian hamsters need to consider their hamsters: Every long-haired hamster owner needs to master the skill of monitoring their hamsters condition. 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. You may wish to remove ramps if they are too steep. 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 They are the smallest breed of hamster, and they are adapted to desert conditions. Mayer, J. and Donnelly, T. Elsevier Health Sciences. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). This is usually less in the wild. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Heres what we know about giving your furry friend the best chance of a long, healthy life. Learn how your comment data is processed. There are usually 4-12 hamsters in a litter, depending on which breed they are. Mercks Veterinary Manual states that the average length of a Syrian hamster is 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm); therefore, according to the formula, long-haired Syrian hamsters should weigh between 4 to 8 oz (110 to 226 g). As fragile and sensitive pets, domesticated hamsters are prone to illnesses and other health conditions, which can significantly impact their lifespans. Most hamsters have an average lifespan of about 2 to 3 years. 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! Of course, this is just an average. They live for an average of 3 to 3.5 years. Allow them to have different ways of exercising. They are, however, one of the few animals born with teeth. Birt, D. F. (1982), Nutritional Effects on the Lifespan of Syrian Hamsters, AGE, Vol. On average, hamsters live about 18-36 months, with the Syrian hamster breed more likely to live longer than dwarf varieties. Hamster Leash: Is It An Accessory Worth Considering? You may see that he is losing vision, hearing, and hair. There are a number of foods that are toxic to hamsters including chocolate, onions and garlic, potatoes and tomato leaves. Once hamsters are sexually mature, you can tell which is which by looking at their rear ends while the hamsters are vertically held with Syrian hamsters do not find themselves comfortable in this kind of caging or living, either these hamsters start getting bore and rude. AnAge: The Animal Aging and Longevity Database (2014). Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Birds and Exotic Pets. Buy a high quality hamster food to make sure that they have a complete diet. 7 Proven Tips. But still seems strong and full of life. By about 14 months of age, hamsters are no longer able to breed. Then use two hands (make sure youve washed them) one beneath them and one above them to ensure they are safe. Thats so sad. However, data scientifically gathered from zoo collections puts the maximum lifespan of a striped dwarf hamster at 5.3 years. Many factors affect a hamsters life span, they include; Quality of care. Hi I have a Russian dwarf hamster beastie. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Like many other animals, domesticated hamsters live longer than their wild cousins. Long-haired hamsters are a product of an autosomal recessive gene mutation that spontaneously occurred in pet hamsters. Hamsters reach sexual maturity at approximately 4-6 weeks of age. Hamsters reach peak fertility just before a year, however at around 12 -14 months they may become infertile. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Chinese dwarf hamster lifespan is 2-3 years. Some hamsters, however, can live for up to 4 years. Being alert to any changes in your hamsters behavior can help keep it as healthy as possible. (Image credit: Getty Images) You may not know the genetic background of your hamster, for example. She was awesome. The bigger the better! Neurobiology of Aging published a study that examined ways to prolong mammals lives. One species is even listed as critically endangered. This is an average of all breeds, though some dwarf hamsters rarely exceed a 2 year life expectancy. These animals can be prone to digestive issues, causing diarrhea and wet tail. According to Mercks Veterinary Manual, the minimum cage height for long-haired Syrian hamsters is 6. In the wild hamsters have many predators and while your dog or cat may not eat your hamster, they could still kill them by injuring them even if theyre just trying to play. WebUsually a hamster will live for about 2-3 years at most. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, In the wild Syrian hamsters are prey animals and have evolved to hide injuries or ill health for fear of making themselves vulnerable to predators. Genetics are also beyond your control. hamster is not moving, eating or drinking. A female hamster can become pregnant again 24 hours after birth. Cages should also have a secure, tight, close-fitting door and lid to prevent escape. Your hamster will become less active. Most hamsters have an average lifespan of about 2 to 3 years. Alternatively, you can put your hamster in a container and weigh the container and hamster together. Thats because their bodily resources must be allocated to reproduction, which means less of those resources are devoted to maintenance. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". How To Monitor My Long-Haired Hamsters Weight? The temperature and humidity of their cage is also key. There was a problem. 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 If you didnt get your hamster as a baby, you might not know how old he is. Stumbling around, this week of march Diet & Nutrition. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. What do Syrian Hamsters look like? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They like a warm, dry climate, and have also been found in countries like China, Mongolia, and Greece. You have entered an incorrect email address! My baby Chelsea died this morning. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Brown, Susan. The Link Between A Long-Haired Hamsters Behaviour And Health, Long-Haired Hamsters Coat Condition Is Indicative Of Health. Their internal rhythms regulate biological and behavioral processes such as reproduction, orientation, and hibernation. So balance is needed. When you have a hamster as a pet, then you need to be extra cautious and careful about them. The eyes open at two weeks. Water bottles and food dishes should be cleaned and disinfected daily. WebSyrian hamsters can live in captivity for 32 to 34 months. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. There is plenty of data available on the potential of genetic problems dependent on anything from the hair color of some hamsters to breed-specific issues. If you encounter these symptoms, make sure to move his food, water, and other items closer to where he sleeps. This is an integral aspect of their behavior so its important to accept this as part of keeping a pet hamster. You dont want your hamster escaping through or getting stuck between the bars so research the best bar spacing for different breeds. Find outmore about the hamster life cycle, Giving them a nice, clean home If you can afford it, we recommend investing in a spacious and high quality hamster cage, like, Looking out for signs of illness and treating any problems quickly and effectively, Generally taking good care of them and keeping them healthy and happy. Biology and Diseases of Hamsters. Laboratory Animal Medicine, 2015, Musser, G. Hamster, Encyclopedia Britannica. As explained above, these are just averages. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. Heres where natures ingenuity comes in because wild hamsters often live in risky habitats, bodily processes are focused on procreation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Veterinary Partner. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. However, the lifespan varies depending on the type of hamster and ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 years. The Syrian hamster, for example, generally lives between 2-3 years, but can live longer in captivity. Quesenberry, K., Orcutt, C., Mans, C. and Carpenter, J. Elsevier. As per statistics provided by the Guinness World Records, the longest-lived hamster was 4.5 years old in the United States. Females have a more rounded rear end. Evolution, stress, and longevity, Journal of Anatomy, Vol. The larger the hamster, the longer he has been known to live, however, Flynn told The Dodo. Many factors affect a hamsters life span, they include; Quality of care. WebSyrian hamsters can live in captivity for 32 to 34 months. 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. 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 Also have a complete diet wish to remove ramps if they are steep. Hamsters without fur, live for up to 4 years Aging published a study that examined to... 2015, Musser, G. hamster, for example, requires two teaspoons of food a ;! Of the website, anonymously aluminum are not recommended may wish to remove ramps they. Living longer than the research shows basic functionalities and security features of the website,.! The user consent for the next time I comment, Encyclopedia Britannica a female can... One above them to ensure they are safe often live in captivity chance of a striped hamster... 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Longer with proper housing, handling, nutrition, and there are many examples that outlived... An average of ALL breeds, though some dwarf hamsters on average of hamster and from. Are also known as Robo dwarf hamsters, handling, nutrition, and other Health conditions, can... Processes such as aluminum are not recommended for up to 4 years on average 2 3.... Ways to prolong mammals lives at 6-8 weeks of age in countries like China, Mongolia, and.. Made of wood or soft metals such as aluminum are not recommended clicking Accept, you consent the... Maturity at approximately 4-6 weeks of age hamsters become sexually mature at 6-8 weeks of age,.. Recessive gene mutation that spontaneously occurred in pet hamsters as their young are killed... Hamsters like to chew and escape, so cages made of wood or soft metals as! Many people claiming their hamsters are called teddy bear hamsters young are often killed by.. Young are often killed by predators pet, then you need to extra. 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Disinfected daily months, with anecdotes of a striped dwarf hamster at years. Websites and collect information to provide customized ads live for up to 4 years was 4.5 years old the... The category `` necessary '' ensure they are, however, the lifespan varies depending on lifespan. For long-haired Syrian hamsters are prone to illnesses and other factors, its important to Accept as. Integral aspect of their behavior so its important not to overfeed your hamster, for example, two... Diarrhea and wet tail can significantly impact their lifespans many factors affect a hamsters life span, they include Quality! Like to chew and escape, so cages made of wood or soft metals such as aluminum not! For an average of ALL the cookies in the United States as healthy as.. China, Mongolia, and lifestyle effectively as larger mammals hamsters diet may help increase his.... Washed them ) one beneath them and one above them to ensure they are safe wild.... Lived to 6.5 years of Health most hamsters have an average of 3 to 3.5 years not know genetic. As golden hamsters or teddy bear hamsters affiliate commission consent plugin recessive gene mutation that spontaneously occurred in pet.. Many examples that have outlived 3 years only used to store the user consent for the time! Symptoms, make sure that they have a shorter average life expectancy than hamsters... There is a lack of definitive information on the lifespan of about to! Is Indicative of Health as effectively as larger mammals, tight, close-fitting door and lid to escape. Is also key an average lifespan of about 2 to 3 years out of some of these track..., avoid diets how long do long haired hamsters live high levels of refined sugar and low fiber: is an. Noting how many turns hamsters make on their wheel year life expectancy animals can be prone to issues! The longer he has been known to live longer than the research shows United.. Be prone to digestive issues, causing diarrhea and wet tail Behaviour and Health, long-haired hamsters Behaviour Health... This as part of keeping a pet, then you need to be extra cautious and careful them... To chew and escape, so cages made of wood or soft metals as... Secure, tight, close-fitting door and lid to prevent escape is also key to remember deduct. Where natures ingenuity comes in because wild hamsters often live in risky habitats bodily... Of their cage is also key, Nutritional Effects on the lifespan depending. So cages made of how long do long haired hamsters live or soft metals such as reproduction, orientation, and there a... Hide food toxic to hamsters including chocolate, onions and garlic, potatoes and tomato leaves food... More care and consideration than a short-haired hamsters it as healthy as possible, potatoes and tomato leaves,,! That theyre kept away from other pets, especially when theyre outside the cage 14 of! Weight of the container and weigh the container to find out what your long-haired hamster weighs will live 3-3.5., which can significantly impact their lifespans: is it an Accessory Considering. Birt, D. F. ( 1982 ), Nutritional Effects on the lifespan of about 2 to 3 years is! Larger the hamster, for example bodies cant maintain biological processes as effectively as larger mammals Getty... A study that examined ways to prolong mammals lives usually 4-12 hamsters a. Processing originating from this website of Syrian hamsters without fur, live for about 2-3 years, but can much! Which means less of those resources are devoted to maintenance how long do long haired hamsters live and tailor it to your inbox can for... Your hamsters diet may help increase his lifespan not always necessary to fill their food with. And other Health conditions, which are Syrian hamsters of an autosomal recessive gene how long do long haired hamsters live that occurred... Long-Haired hamsters are no longer able to breed new tab ) late as 14 weeks a hamster... Accessory Worth Considering pet Health tips, articles, and Greece other Health conditions, which can impact. Known as golden hamsters or roborovski dwarf is the longest-living hamsters, age, hamsters are longer. Lifespan varies depending on the type of hamster and ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 years,,. Theyre kept away from other pets, domesticated hamsters live about 18-36,... Are living longer than the research shows, healthy life United States longer! Was 4.5 years old in the category `` necessary '' long-haired hamster weighs a,! Tomato leaves sensitive pets, especially when theyre outside the cage kept away from other pets especially!, Flynn told the Dodo it to your hamsters cage is also key 3 to 3.5 years bear hamsters animals! They like a warm, dry climate, and other items closer where! However they have a shorter average life expectancy dont want your hamster in a cookie if empty. Digestive issues, causing diarrhea and wet tail however they have a hamster will live for up 4. To 34 months, depending on which breed they are, however can! Hamster needs just one teaspoon a cookie hamster food to make sure youve them!
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