According to the Minnesota Department of Health, hamsters live an average of 2 to 3 years.
However, they’re known for their unpredictable behavior. Some patients even experience odd cravings, such as constantly chewing on the wrong piece of plastic.
So, what hamsters lives the longest? Hamsters can live between 3 and 5 years in captivity, but some can live much longer in the wild.
For example, the Syrian hamster can live for up to 6 years in the wild, and the Russian dwarf hamster can live for up to 5 years in the wild. However, only the Russian dwarf hamster can live up to 4 years in captivity.
The Syrian hamster, on the other hand, can live less than 3 years in captivity. The longest-living hamster is the Roborovski hamster.
It lives between 3 and 4 years in captivity and up to 5 years in the wild. Overall, Roborovski hamsters live the longest.
Let’s find more.
What Hamster Lives The Longest?
Contents
Hamsters can live for a long time.
Some can live up to 3 years! However, hamsters can only live so long because of their size.
Hamsters grow really small and their bodies are fragile. In addition, hamsters have tiny brains and hearts.
Their hearts can’t pump blood efficiently, and they can’t regulate their body temperature well either.
Despite their size and fragility, hamsters are very cute and fun pets to have.
Average Lifespan Of Different Hamster Species
Roborovski Hamster
This hamster may live for up to 3 -4 years in captive conditions or up to five years in the wild.
They are known for being very social and having a strong immune system! They are one of the most popular breeds of pet hammies.
They are super active and love to run around! They love to play and hide.
They are also very vocal! They can chirp up to seven times a day.
They are very trainable and love to be cuddled! Their fur is silky and feels like velvet, and they also shed very little.
They are endemic to the Gobi Desert, Mongolia and China.
Chinese Hamster
This hamster, often known as the Golden Hamster, is extremely popular in pet ownership around the world.
They range in length from 3.9 to just over four inches.
They can weigh anywhere between three and seven ounces.
Most commonly though they are five ounces or less.
These little cuties can have a short lifespan of just a year or they can live up to four years.
They tend to get cold easily and need constant heat and warm bedding.
They are known to be very good pets! They can be trained to do tricks and they love to be around people! They are very sociable.
Their fur is greyish brown, with a darker dorsal stripe on their back and a grey underbelly.
They are indigenous to China and have been domesticated for over a century.
Although they get cold easily they thrive best in a temperature controlled environment with warm bedding! They have lots of energy and love to climb.
They also love to burrow. They have very active minds and love to explore!
They are extremely friendly and lovable. They can be trained to do tricks very easily!
They are usually great with children. They can be litter trained as well!
They do require plenty of exercise daily and can easily become overweight if overfed.
Winter White Russian Dwarf
This hamster, sometimes known as the Djungarian Hamster, loves to be out and about. They get their name from their white winter coat which turns grey in the summer.
They can also have a black mask on their face and sometimes a white belly.
They have quite a large head for their body size! They also have quite big eyes! These little guys can get up to almost four inches in length.
They can weigh anywhere between one and a half and three ounces.
Their lifespan is between two years and four and a half years.
They are well-known for their fur, which is very long and soft.
They are also very intelligent.
They are very sociable and love to be around people! They love to climb and explore their surroundings! They can also be taught tricks.
They need lots of stimulation and exercise daily to stay happy and healthy. They are also very active at night time.
They need lots of space to roam around in as well as regular exercise to keep them happy and healthy. They also love to chew on things so need toys to keep their minds busy and mouths occupied, and also teething toys to help relieve their discomfort.
Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan are the largest countries for Siberian Huskies, while the US is the largest importer of Siberian Huskies in the world.
Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamster
They are also known as Russian Campbell’s Dwarfs. A very popular breed of dwarf hamsters as pets due to their cute looks and personality.
These little guys are about an inch and a half long.
They can weigh anywhere from half an ounce to two ounces. They have a rounded head and their cheeks have adorable chubby cheeks.
Their ears are quite small and they typically only have one ear hole on each side of their head. They come in a wide variety of colors including black, white, gray, tan, brown and tan.
Their coats might be regular, silky, wavy, or short and fluffy.
Native to Asia, they thrive well in cooler climates.
Syrian Hamster
The Golden Hamster is a dwarf breed that originated in Syria and the Middle East region.
These cute creatures come in a variety of colors and markings, such as golden, silver, red, black, tan, chocolate, or white, with or without a black mask and black toes on the feet.
They typically weight about two and a half to three ounces and measure about three and a half inches long with a tail measuring about two inches long.
Females are usually larger than males.
This is the most social of hamsters and will bond with their human family if handled daily.
They are golden brown in color with pale gray underbellies and a reddish tint on their facemasks.
They may survive for up to seven years in captivity.
Factors Influencing Hamster Lifespan
When it comes to a hamster’s lifespan, genetics plays a major role in determining how long a hamster will live.
Just like humans, different hamsters have different genetic makeups and health factors that may affect their lifespans. There are also several environmental factors that can shorten a hamster’s life if not taken care of properly.
The number one factor in shortening a hamster’s life is poor diet and lack of exercise/stimulation.
Also, it is important to always provide fresh water and food for your hamsters because malnutrition and dehydration can lead to death as well.
It might be genetics inherited from their parents and grandparents but it is also possible that the pet owner may be the cause of a shorter life span.
However, you should be aware that some of these variables are not under your control at all. For example, you cannot choose your parents but you can make sure you take care of your pet properly to ensure its longevity.
Illness, genetics, and age are factors that can affect the length of your hamster’s life.
How to Help Hamsters Live Longer
Digestive Problems
The majority of hamsters are prone or susceptible to several health problems such as diarrhea, constipation, intestinal parasites, gastric ulcers, or internal blockages.
These digestive problems can cause severe distress and pain for the animal and can eventually lead to death if not treated right away.
It is important to take your little friend to the vet as soon as you notice any of these symptoms to make sure there are no underlying health issues causing the problem.
Treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics and antiparasitic medications.
These problems, if not addressed quickly can lead to a loss of appetite and weight loss in the hamster.
So, if you see any changes in appetite or behavior in your little friend make sure to take him/her to the vet immediately to avoid any complications or illness that might result from these problems.
When providing your hamsters with a healthy diet make sure to include fiber-rich foods in their diets to help prevent and treat digestive issues.
Make sure to wash all fruits and vegetables before feeding them to your pets to prevent parasites from contaminating their food.
It is also recommended to use commercial pelleted food as this type of food provides all the necessary nutrients that a hamster needs to stay healthy and active.
Diet
A hamster’s nutrition is one of the most important things that need to be taken into consideration when it comes to keeping a pet healthy and happy.
Hamsters have specific dietary needs just like humans do. Unlike humans, however, they have a very different digestive system that requires a specific diet to stay healthy and active.
There are certain foods that need to be avoided at all costs as these can be harmful to your little friend in the long run.
According to scientific studies, whether hamsters are given either a low or high fiber diet has a direct effect on their life spans.
Other Factors
The hamster is an energetic animal that needs plenty of exercise in order to remain healthy.
You can give exceptional care to your furry little friends by ensuring they get adequate exercise and stimulation every day.
Lack of activity can lead to boredom and stress which may lead to aggression and even depression in your pet. It can also lead to obesity which in turn can shorten your hammies’ life by 20% or more.
This is because overweight animals are more prone to illnesses than healthy ones. Obesity can also lead to many serious health conditions in your pet such as heart disease and diabetes.
If you have a hamster that prefers to be alone, he may not get enough exercise in his cage by himself unless you get his wheel out and provide him with several toys to play with in your absence.
Because hamsters are prey animals, they naturally have the desire to climb and burrow.
A constantly stressful atmosphere can also affect their health and shorten their life as well.
It is very important to provide your small furry friends with an environment that is stress-free so they can lead a happy and active life.
You should avoid keeping more than one male in a cage at the same time as they can become aggressive towards each other and may even fight to the death.
Keeping too many females in a cage is also not a good idea as they can get very territorial with each other.
Also Read: Why Do Hamsters Lick You?
Final Words
When it comes to hamster lifetime, you can expect them to last between 2 to 3 years but in some cases, they may even live longer.
A hamster has an average lifetime of 2 to 3 years but some may live as long as 4 to 5 years while others may only survive for less than a year.
Factors that affect the length of a hammy’s life are age, genetics, and environment.
We all want our hamsters to live a long and happy life and do everything in our power to ensure this happens for them.
If you take good care of them and give them all the love and attention they need they will return the favor by living a healthy happy life with you for many years to come.
So, in order to ensure that your hamster has a long and healthy life, you should give them lots of love, exercise, fresh water and food every day, and clean their cage regularly.
A regular vet visit is also essential to keep your pets healthy and check for any possible health problems that may be developing over time.
