Hamster life expectancy

Published: 23 Jun Last Updated: 23 Jun The average lifespan of pet hamsters was 1.

Hamsters are fun animals and can make good first pets for children, provided you understand what they need to be healthy and happy. Find out more about them on this page, and then why not take a look at all the hamsters we have available for rehoming? Why not have a read of our full Hamster fact file? Find out everything you need to know about keeping hamsters as pets in our series of handy guides to hamsters, including their:. You can find even more about looking after your pet hamster in our guide to how to take care of your hamster. Making sure your hamster has a suitable place to live is the first step to keeping your pet healthy and happy. To give your hamster a happy, healthy life, here's what to do to give them the care and attention they need.

Hamster life expectancy

Syrian hamsters can make fantastic companions. With their differing personalities and quirky ways, Syrian hamsters can be a wonderful choice of pet and are easy to care for once you know their needs. Before deciding on taking home a Syrian hamster, it is important to know their needs and the commitment they are and to THINK TWICE — ensuring this is a pet that you dedicate time, space and finances to. In this Petopedia article we cover the basic welfare needs of Syrian hamsters and have some key information to help you get started in the world of hamster ownership. Syrian hamsters must live on their own as they are territorial mammals and will start to fight with each other once they have reached maturity, which is between 8 and 12 weeks. Syrian hamsters should never be kept in pairs or groups once mature. Syrian hamsters are nocturnal which means that they are most active at night and their life expectancy is between 1 and 2 years, but have been known to live much longer. Although when compared to a rabbit or cat, their life expectancy is lower — they are still a huge commitment for that time and will need twice daily attention and care from their owners. So be sure that your lifestyle can adapt to this before taking your little one home. Their nocturnal nature means that they will be up and about during the night, burrowing, digging, playing and chewing!

The average age at death across all hamsters was 21 months 1. Search Term. At birth, they are blind and deaf with no fur.

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. Most pet hamsters only tend to live between 1. Surprisingly wild hamsters can live for longer. The European hamster, for example, can live for up to 8 years. However they have a shorter average life expectancy than pet hamsters as their young are often killed by predators.

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. Most pet hamsters only tend to live between 1. Surprisingly wild hamsters can live for longer. The European hamster, for example, can live for up to 8 years. However they have a shorter average life expectancy than pet hamsters as their young are often killed by predators. Fortunately they have a very high reproduction rate, which helps them survive. 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. Wild hamsters tend to live longer than pet hamsters if they manage to escape their predators. The Syrian hamster, for example, generally lives between years, but can live longer in captivity. The European hamster can live up to eight years in the wild.

Hamster life expectancy

Usually a hamster will live for about years at most. This is the average lifespan, and there are many examples that have outlived 3 years, or never reached a year. The average lifespan varies for each hamster breed. The longest lived hamster breed is the Roborovski Dwarf up to 4 years , while the shortest is the Chinese Dwarf a little under 2 years.

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Life Expectancies for 10 Popular Unique Pets. They are, however, one of the few animals born with teeth. Any hamster that is a year and a half old is considered elderly. Further education of vets is encouraged to enable better understanding of the welfare and treatment of hamsters under veterinary care in the UK. But be patient, go slowly with them and they will get to a point where they are happy to be handled daily and may even be waiting in their enclosure for you ready to play. Wild hamsters tend to live longer than pet hamsters if they manage to escape their predators. Surprisingly wild hamsters can live for longer. Good substrate examples are dust extracted rodent safe wood shavings or Carefresh. Menu search. Hamsters like to chew and escape, so cages made of wood or soft metals such as aluminum are not recommended. How long can a hamster live? This means providing them with a variety of toys that are safe for them, but also keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Are they straight and not overgrown?

Hamsters are endearing little pets, but their sadly short lifespans compared to cats and dogs often deter potential owners. Just how long do these pocket-sized rodents live?

If you answered no to any of the above your pet may require veterinary attention. Although little, these cute mammals with a little time and patience can be taught their name, pick up routines easily, litter train themselves and will even do some simple tricks if taught gradually. Share this Veterinary advice should be sought if ever you think your pet appears lethargic or ill in any way. They must also lead an enriched life to be healthy and happy. Pet hamsters tend to live between 1. How long can a hamster live? Husbandry and Medical Care of Hamsters. The ideal temperature for a hamster is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the ideal humidity is about 40 percent. The oldest hamster in the Guinness Book of World Records made it to a stunning 4. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Sign up for weekly pet health tips and insights from our veterinarians.