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How Long Does A Hamster Live?

How Long Does A Hamster Live?

When you get a pet, the first question that will come to your mind is how long you can spend time with your pet. Unfortunately, the lifespan is not that great in terms of a hamster. So, how long does a hamster live?

The lifespan of a hamster is about two years. But at most, it may extend to 3 years. Sometimes a hamster may not even last for a year. The lifespan of a hamster also varies based on species and genes. The Chinese dwarf hamsters live less than two years, and the Roborovski dwarf lives about four years.

The average lifespan is affected by several factors. If you want to know in detail, you will find them in this article.

What Is the Average Lifespan of Hamsters?

As a hamster is a very tiny creature, it doesn’t have a significant lifespan. We all know that the size of the hamsters is the leading cause of having such a short lifetime.

If we consider average results, a hamster can survive 2 to 3 years based on your care. But according to Guinness World Records, 4.5 years is the most extended life of a hamster.

Their lifespan can also vary based on genes and species. For example, the Roborovski hamsters have 3 to 3.5 years of lifespan, while the Chinese hamsters can live only for 1.5 to 2 years.

On the other hand, the Syrian hamsters have an average lifetime of 2 to 2.5 years. It is different for Campbell’s dwarf hamsters because they live less than two years.

However, you can ensure that your little pet lives longer than average if you pay attention to the factors affecting its quality of life.

Factors Affecting Lifespan of a Hamster

You need to be concerned about these facts if you want your hamster to live a bit longer and healthy life (or we can say to prevent dying early).

Hamster’s lifetime is dependent on your care, and you wouldn’t even feel stressed while doing so. Let’s show you some of the facts that you need to consider:

Genes

When you first go to the pet shop, you need to decide which type of hamster you should get. Before buying, you should know their origin and types.

It is possible that the shopkeepers have bred them there with another kind. Therefore, it will affect the genes. If you like these new litters, then you can get one.

But it is essential to know that these accidental breeding can affect the lifetime and health of hamsters.

Food Habit

If you want your tiny friend to remain healthy, you should follow some strict diets. For example, it is not wise to feed your hamster apple seed, raw foods, or any type of junk food. Well, the reason is that these foods will enhance the possibility of getting sick.

But the food list for a hamster is pretty long. An apple with no seeds, blueberries, banana, carrot, cucumber, grapes, cauliflower, cooked potato, strawberries, squash, cooked brown rice, cooked chicken of small pieces, nuts, etcetera can all be in their diet for a healthy lifestyle.

Diseases or Illness

You should know that any severe disease can end the life of any creature or shorten its lifespan by damaging the immune system. Therefore, it is perilous if you don’t pay any attention or regularly check your hamster’s health.

Some diseases can even come with genes or the environment that your hamster is living in.

Regular Exercise

A hamster should exercise regularly, especially when it is young. The ideal space for exercise is a running wheel, and it is mandatory for a hamster. It will boost the immune system of your hamster.

Otherwise, your tiny little pet friend will turn out to be irritated, obese, or nippy.

Breeding Type or Species

It is imperative to acknowledge the breeding type of your hamster.

The Syrian hamsters have a short lifetime and often get a disease like diabetes. On the other hand, the dwarf varieties have robust immune systems, and they don’t get wet tails quickly like the Syrians. Roborovski is the most vital breed type but smaller than others.

Does Cleanliness Matter?

Without a doubt, it matters. The cleanliness of your hamster is essential, as well as its cage. Many diseases or parasites can attack your hamster. So, you must keep the cage and your hamster clean.

And don’t worry because cleaning the pen and the hamster is pretty straightforward. The reason is that both are tiny.

FAQs

What is the survival rate of a hamster?

The survival rate of hamsters is not so great. According to researchers, the mortality rate within a year is about 0 to 3 percent, and they experimented on 14000 hamsters. Sometimes the rate varies from 9 to 11 percent.

Does a hamster bite?

Typically, a hamster won’t bite you until you make it angry or aggressive. But the bite isn’t harmful at all because they have very tiny teeth. However, we advise you to avoid the bite as much as possible.

Is loud music harmful to hamsters?

Regular music is okay, but loud music is stressful to a hamster. You will find that your hamster might be trying to covering its ears due to the loud music.

What types of food shouldn’t a hamster have?

First of all, keep your hamster away from garlic, onion, and other raw foods like potatoes or beans. A hamster shouldn’t also have apple seeds, almonds, chocolates, junk foods, citrus foods, sugary foods, salty foods, etcetera.

Bottom Line

We have tried to discuss the lifespan and mentioned every species out there. Hopefully, you get a brief idea about how long does a hamster live?

Hamsters are adorable creatures. If you want to spend more time with your tiny pet, choose the right one. Have fun with your little furball of joy!

John Thompson
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