Last Updated on March 17, 2024 by Aftab Tariq
How long do hamsters live and how long does a Syrian hamster live? On average, hamsters can live 18 to 36 months. Syrian hamsters typically have a lifespan of around two years, but some may live longer. Pet hamsters typically live between 1.5 to 4 years, while wild hamsters like the European hamster can live up to 8 years. Jack Bowater says,
“Like the sands of an hourglass, a hamster’s life measures fleeting moments, usually lasting up to two years.”
Wild hamsters have a shorter average lifespan due to predators but reproduce quickly to survive. To ensure your hamster lives long and healthy, taking good care of them is important. This includes providing the right cage, toys, and nutrition.
Learn about your hamster‘s breed, where they live, and what they eat. Keep an eye out for signs of stress, too. By taking these steps, you can ensure your hamster has the best life possible.
How Long Do Hamsters Live In The Wild?
Wild hamsters can live between 2-3 years. Compared to hamsters that are kept as pets, those allowed to live in the wild typically have a longer lifespan, provided that they can avoid being captured by other varieties of animals.
For example, the average lifespan of a Syrian hamster is between two and three years, but when they are maintained as pets, their lifespan can be extended. On the other hand, European hamsters have the potential to survive for up to eight years in their natural environment.
Life Cycle Of A Domestic Hamster:
The average lifespan of a hamster is quite short. It takes only around sixteen to twenty-two days for a pregnant hamster to give birth. Six to eight offspring are typically born to a mother hamster. These infants do not have any sense of hearing or sight when they are born.
To everyone’s surprise, they had teeth from birth. Their fur develops approximately five days after birth, and they open their eyes about two weeks later. Once their mother has cared for them for around 28 days, they are left to fend for themselves.
Hamsters develop sexual maturity and can reproduce four to six weeks after birth. Breeding gets safer after ten weeks, so keep the sexes apart. Babies and hamsters may die now. Mother hamsters can conceive again in one day. Hamster fertility peaks at about one year; however, some may experience infertility between 12 and 14 months.
How long do hamsters live as pets?
The average lifespan of a pet hamster is three to four years. But depending on the species, with proper care, some hamsters can live much longer than that. Various kinds of pet hamsters typically live to be about this old age:
1: Golden/Syrian Hamster: 2-4 years
2: Siberian Hamster: Around two years
3: Chinese Hamster: 2-3 years
4: Roborovski Dwarf Hamster: Around three years
5: Campbell’s Dwarf Russian Hamster: Around two years
What Factors Affect A Hamster’s Lifespan?
Many things can affect how long a hamster lives. If you want your hamster to stay healthy and live a longer life, here are some important things to think about:
Proper Eating
Healthy hamsters need a varied diet. They consume veggies and protein. Give them enough food with all the nutrients. Syrian hamsters need two tablespoons of chow daily, whereas dwarfs need one. Watch what you feed them.
Chocolate, onions, garlic, potatoes, and tomato leaves are hamster-toxic. Iceberg lettuce, peanuts, and citrus fruits can also cause issues. Don’t overfeed them. It’s acceptable if their dish isn’t full—they hide food.
Getting Enough Exercise
Hamsters need exercise to stay healthy and happy. A hamster wheel for their cage is the finest way to exercise them. These wheels give hamsters hours of fun. Provide climbing toys and allow them to play outside their cage. Without enough activity, they may become restless, chew their cage, or try to escape.
Be careful while offering kids tunnels and tubes to play in. Ensure the tubes are big enough for Syrian hamsters, which can get stuck and scared. Ensure the tubes on the walls are secure to prevent your hamster from falling and hurting. Keep tubes and tunnels simple, and avoid steep or convoluted ones.
Efficiently Managing Them
Hamsters require special attention from their caregivers to enjoy a long and healthy existence. Your hamster needs careful handling, so you should only let a few people around it. Make sure they know what they’re doing. Carefully approach your hamster before handling it to ensure it is awake and alert.
Make direct eye contact with each person before you take their hand. Be careful to use both hands when you lift them; one should be under the shoes, and the other should be above them. This will ensure that you clean them thoroughly.
Optimizing Cage Size
Your hamster‘s well-being is directly related to the size of its cage. If their cage is too cramped, they may experience stress. Cage size is vital for hamsters of all breeds, but larger cages are often better.
For instance, dwarf hamsters only need 450 square inches of space, but Syrian hamsters need at least 620 square inches. Having more than one hamster will necessitate a somewhat larger cage. Furthermore, make sure that the cage’s bars are properly spaced.
It would be disastrous if your hamster gets stuck between the bars or manages to get out of its cage. Keep dwarf hamsters at a distance of no more than 0.25 inches from one another and Syrian hamsters no more than 0.5 inches.
Keeping Other Pets Away
While living in nature, hamsters are vulnerable to various predators. Your canine or feline friend may not devour your hamster, but they can still hurt it if they play with it roughhousing. You must keep your hamster far away from other animals and ensure its cage is secure whenever it is not used.
Maintaining A Clean Cage
Maintaining a clean and healthy environment for your hamster requires regular cage cleaning. It would help if you emptied the cage daily to remove any leftover food or trash. A good rule of thumb is to clean the cage completely every week or two. To begin, remove all of the animals from the cage. Then, wash the bedding and wipe down the cage with vinegar and water.
Making A Comfy Home
To help your hamster live longer, make their home comfy. Keep things quiet because hamsters don’t like loud noises. Also, make sure their cage is warm enough. The right temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with some humidity around 40 percent.
Watch out for signs that your hamster might not feel well, like sweating, shivering, or acting differently. They might chew on things or lose their fur if they seem stressed. Give them soft bedding made from paper, wood, or veggies. And make sure they have fun toys to play with to keep them happy and active.
Criteria for determining the age of your hamster
After reaching the age of two, your hamster is regarded as an old hamster, regardless of its breed. Nevertheless, several other signs point to the fact that it is becoming older:
Hair thinning: Hair loss is a common occurrence in aged hamsters.
Concerns about the eyes: Hamsters’ poor eyesight is just the beginning; age-related issues like cataracts or total blindness are also possible. Although this may explain why your hamster‘s eyes may become noticeably whiter, your pet will continue to thrive with its other senses intact.
Decreased hunger: Your hamster‘s appetite could decline or become more finicky as it ages. This might be because they have trouble chewing or digesting harder foods. Opt for omelets, rice, or steamed broccoli.
Using less power: As they age, hamsters naturally slow down, reducing their activity levels and increasing their sleep duration. Additionally, they may have arthritis and have increased difficulty moving, which causes them to bang into their cage more frequently.
Oral health issues: Hamsters continue to develop their teeth up until the time that they reach adulthood. When they reach maturity and begin consuming softer things, taking them to the veterinarian may be essential to have their teeth filed down.
In most cases, their teeth are worn down by the natural chewing movement that they engage in. As hamsters age, their teeth will become more and more inflexible.
Maintenance routines: A hamster‘s bathroom habits will vary, and its grooming routines will decrease as it ages due to exhaustion. The bedding is just one of many potential locations for an older hamster to defecate in their cage. But if your hamster cuts less on its food, you might notice a decrease in its droppings. Before taking them to the vet, check their digestive system.
Longest Living Hamster
The Guinness Book of World Records recognized the hamster that survived the longest, reaching the age of 4.5 years. This hamster was the longest-living hamster ever recorded. We know he lived in Tyne and Wear and was owned by Karen Smeaten, but his name still needs to be documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2 Years Long For A Hamster?
Hamsters usually live around 2 to 3 years. This is a short time, which might be great for someone who doesn’t want a pet requiring a long-term commitment.
How Long Do Dwarf Hamsters Live As Pets?
Dwarf hamsters live as pets between 2-3 years.
How Long Do Hamsters Live Without Food?
A hamster typically can survive for only three to four days without food, though it’s important to ensure they don’t endure such prolonged periods of deprivation.
Sources
Average Life Expectancy Hamster
I am a dedicated content writer with more than five years of experience, particularly skilled in the art of storytelling. My writing journey commenced during my college years, where I pursued journalism and unearthed my talent for creating captivating narratives.
