hamster is not moving, eating or drinking. Their lifespans are also affected by environmental conditions and fighting with other hamsters. Hamsters in safe enclosures that give adequate scope for exercise tend to be healthy, busy little creatures. Ill be crushed when the day comes that we lose him. A hamsters diet should consist mainly of a commercially produced pelleted rodent diet intended for mice and rats. Syrian hamsters are also known as golden hamsters or teddy bear hamsters. Hamsters, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. A change in your hamsters diet may help increase his lifespan. Many owners are tempted to bathe and brush their long-haired hamsters. Campbells Russian Dwarf Hamsters and Russian Winter White Dwarf Hamsters have similar lifespans. Yes hes looking a bit older. Cage size is one of the most important factors to ensure the health of your hamster. 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. Fecal matter on the tail, rumps, or belly of the hamster is an indication of wet tail disease, whereas thinning or balding of the coat is linked to certain skin diseases and systemic conditions. Once hamsters are sexually mature, you can tell which is which by looking at their rear ends while the hamsters are vertically held with You therefore need toknow how long you are committing to looking after your pet and be absolutely sure that youre happy to take on that responsibility. Hamsters do not like loud noises so try to create a quiet, peaceful space for them. There was a problem. Hamsters also need plenty of space to move around. Neurobiology of Aging published a study that examined ways to prolong mammals lives. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. Other common ailments that affect hamsters include: Amyloidosis (protein deposits in the organs). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. What factors affect how long hamsters live? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 4th ed. WebThe ideal environment for long-haired hamsters: Temperature: 64 F to 79 F (17 C to 26 C) Humidity: 30% to 70% To monitor subtle changes in your long-haired hamsters weight, it is advisable to do a weekly weight check. Surprisingly wild hamsters can live for longer. . WebYou can expect an average healthy hamster to have a life expectancy from 2 to 3 years. Hes the most laid back and amazing Ive ever seen. His teeth may also work less well. Genetics. The ideal environment for long-haired hamsters: Hamsters kept at temperatures below 60 F, in low light conditions are more likely to start showing hibernation-type activity, although they will only hibernate at temperatures below 41 F. At five days, they start to grow fur. AnAge: The Animal Aging and Longevity Database (2014). After the first six weeks of life, an increase in fat helped hamsters live longer. 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. What to look out for. This is unusual in animals, but may be because hamsters have a foregut that modifies fat before it is absorbed in the gut. As per statistics provided by the Guinness World Records, the longest-lived hamster was 4.5 years old in the United States. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Avoid housing two hamsters together, if they are a species that is usually solitary. Hamsters may also experience fur loss from nutritional deficiencies. 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 Fortunately they have a very high reproduction rate, which helps them survive. Thats because their bodily resources must be allocated to reproduction, which means less of those resources are devoted to maintenance. Yesterday my daughter and I fed her treats and she was jumping around. Learning what normal behavior for your long-haired hamster is will allow you to notice subtle differences in your hamster behavior. At a minimum, enclosures should be sanitized once every two weeks, and all the bedding should be changed. With good care, pet hamster life expectancy ranges from 1 to 3.5 years, depending on their breed. Hope she was happy. There are usually 4-12 hamsters in a litter, depending on which breed they are. Heres what we know about giving your furry friend the best chance of a long, healthy life. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. Its no secret why hamsters are so popular as pets. Hamsters typically live one to two years, but can live up to three years in captivity. Why Is My Hamster Always Trying To Escape? 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 Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. It is now December, 10, 2021 so he is just over three years old. 197. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. However, the lifespan varies depending on the type of hamster and ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 years. Quesenberry, K., Orcutt, C., Mans, C. and Carpenter, J. Elsevier. Pollock, Christal. Have you had a hamster live for a particularly long time? Females have a more rounded rear end. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired hamsters. 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. In general, however, they do not live more than three years. WebSyrian hamsters can live in captivity for 32 to 34 months. Long-haired hamsters require a bit more special care than short haired hamsters, though many people prefer the appearance of long haired 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. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest living hamster reached the grand age of 4.5 years. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Syrian hamsters do not find themselves comfortable in this kind of caging or living, either these hamsters start getting bore and rude. Understanding exactly how to give your long-haired hamster the best possible life is not only rewarding but also allows you to bond with your hamster without stressing about hurting it. Ran that wheel like no ones business. Golden hamsters can produce five litters a year. LittleFurryPets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. NY 10036. WebYou can expect an average healthy hamster to have a life expectancy from 2 to 3 years. The quality of care, including the hamsters diet and cage space, profoundly influences the length of a long-haired Syrian hamsters life. Featured Image: iStock.com/Nynke van Holten. 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. Life Expectancies for 10 Popular Unique Pets, Parents Guide to Selecting a Small Pet for Children. Certain breeds are more prone to specific ailments than others. 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. Males and females are also separated at this stage as breeding is more successful after 10 weeks. If the tubes are attached to the walls, make sure they are secure so your hamster does not suffer a fall and injure themselves. Its not always necessary to fill their food dish with food if its empty as hamsters tend to hide food. Hi Commercial cages made of rigid plastic material (e.g., polycarbonate, polysulfone, and polypropylene) or stainless steel are great options. Check out the following information to help you get the most from your pet hamster experience. They have also been known to move their young by storing infants in their cheek pouches. Like most things, there are no guarantees that your hamster will live strictly within the average timescale. Syrian hamsters need no more than 0.5 inches and dwarf hamsters need no more than 0.25 inches of space between the bars. 2010. Providing a secure and quiet environment can only be of benefit. Why is it important to find out how long hamsters live before buying one? Allow them to have different ways of exercising. The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. Nocturnal hamsters are active at night. You may wish to remove ramps if they are too steep. The average hamster lifespan: How long do hamsters live? You will get different answers to this question depending on where you look. Back to the full plastic cage. 2013. 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. A keen animal lover, Zara can often be found researching her next wildlife destination to travel to. Any hamster that is a year and a half old is considered elderly. Diet & Nutrition. 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. She was awesome. Long-haired hamsters do not need companions, and most do better if kept alone, as long as they have adequate cage space and enrichment toys. Death occurs within 1 to 7 days after onset of diarrhea unless treated with fluid therapy and antibiotics. However, diarrhea can occur at any age. Rabehl, N. (1998), Basic data for feeding hamsters, Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Vol 80. What Is The Ideal Temperature For Long-Haired Hamsters? 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 I want a hamster (a robo) REALLY bad. 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. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. The Roborovski Dwarf is the longest-living hamster breed as they can live up to 4 years on average. This is an average of all breeds, though some dwarf hamsters rarely exceed a 2 year life expectancy. 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