Hamsters are very clever little animals that love to interact with humans. If you spend enough time with them, they will start to create an amazing bond with you.
It’s very important to learn about the lifespan of a hamster and how to help them live longer if you plan to own one as a pet. We will tell you all about their lifespan in this article.
Summary;
How long do Hamsters live?
- The average lifespan of a hamster is between 2 to 2.5 years.
- Dwarf hamsters have a lifespan of 1 to 2 years. They make great pets as they are very sociable and easy to take care of.
- Roborovski (robo) hamsters live for 3 years on average
An Overview of Hamsters
The name hamster comes from the German word ‘hamstern’ which means to hoard. This means they love to hide a lot of food underground.
Hamsters are smart creatures known to even learn their name when trained. If you constantly talk to your hamster and use their name frequently enough to get them used to hearing it, they might even learn to come when called.
They have been known to experience good and bad moods which directly influences their behavior and view of the world. These adorable creatures have feelings similar to us.
Interestingly, hamsters are born blind meaning they know you by scent or voice. How amazing is that!
The Average Lifespan of a Hamster
The average lifespan of a hamster is between 2 to 2.5 years. The longest living hamster lived for 4.5 years.
Several factors affect the lifespan of hamsters such as:
- Quality of care
- Environment
- Genetics
- Species
- Exercise
- Diet
- Illness
Some of the factors affecting the life expectancy of hamsters cannot be controlled such as genetics and species. However, others such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and quality healthcare greatly increase their lifespan.
Do you know that hamsters can actually catch colds from people? It is very important to consistently wash your hands when handling hamsters as a common cold in humans can be very fatal to hamsters.
Like humans, Hamsters are also highly susceptible to Metabolic diseases such as diabetes. They therefore need good health care. [1]
Let us have a quick look at the lifespans of some hamster species below.
1. How long do Dwarf hamsters live?
The average life expectancy of a dwarf hamster is 1 to 2 years.
Dwarf hamsters are the tiniest in the hamster species having sizes similar to mice. They are very popular as pets for humans. They love living in pairs, hence it’s recommended to get two of the same sex when considering them as pets.
Unfortunately, dwarf hamsters in captivity do not live as long as those in the wild. This is largely due to the difference in their diets.
2. How long do Syrian hamsters live?
Syrian hamsters have a lifespan of between 1 to 2 years. Some can live longer than this.
They are normally very active at night, playing, chewing, and burrowing. Syrian hamsters have been known to be very territorial and must be kept on their own. Even the slightest smell of another hamster nearby makes them upset!
3. How long do robo (roborovski) hamsters live?
On Average the robo hamster lives for 3 years.
Their lifespan largely depends on their living conditions. They live longer in captivity than when in the wild. Roborovski hamsters sometimes die suddenly from blood clots forming due to abnormal circulation in the heart.
These clots occur when the hamsters are thrown when playing. They should be handled with extreme care and caution as pets especially since they love to run around.
4. How long do winter white hamsters live?
The winter white hamsters live for 1.5 to 2 years. Their name comes from their fur color.
They have an incredible ability to change their fur based on the winter season. As winter approaches, their fur gets lighter and lighter. How interesting is it to watch this happen!
In the wild, the white fur is a way to camouflage from predators hence protecting themselves. Winter white hamsters have one of the shortest lifespans among the hamster family.
5. How long do fancy bear hamsters live?
The life expectancy of a fancy bear hamster is 2 to 3 years. They live for a shorter period in the wild that is, 1 to 2 years on average.
The oldest known fancy bear hamster lived for 8 years. [2]
Fancy bear hamsters have the most wonderful personalities and temperaments among hamsters. Female fancy bear hamsters live longer than males.
6. Russian dwarf hamster lifespan
The Russian Dwarf Hamster are small in size hence the name dwarf. They live for 1 to 2 years on average.
Russian dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes which reduces their life expectancy significantly. People ready to keep them as pets should ensure they have a proper diet to avoid them getting diabetes.
How to Prolong the Life of Your Pet Hamster
These adorable little creatures need constant care and commitment. Hamsters are not ideal for very small children as they like to bite, causing harm. Here ways to prolong the life of your hamster:
- Understand his or her history. This will help you understand how to better care for them.
- Give them a big cage with comfortable bedding, and ensure it is always clean.
- Ensure that your pet hamster is well fed as their growth primarily depends on diet.
- Ensure the diet is varied with fruits, bugs, and vegetables. Do not forget fresh water as well.
- Hamsters love to exercise a lot. Give them toys such as the iconic hamster wheel and ball.
With proper healthcare, diet, and enough exercise hamsters can lead a long and happy life.
Spending time with your hamster daily enables you to know any problems they may have, changes in behavior patterns, needs, and requirements.
I enjoyed watching this video on how to care for a Hamster, am sure you will too.
Other interesting pets in the rodent family that you can consider include: Rats and Squirrels
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