How long do hamsters live?

The hamster is a cheerful pet, you can have it at home and keep it in a cage. Hamsters are soft and fluffy, they are loved by children and adults, animals are not too capricious in their care, and they are inexpensive. The only drawback is their short life.

Typically, hamsters can live both in the wild and at home. Moreover, the duration of their existence will be different.

A hamster can live longer in an apartment environment than in the wild. In addition, the life cycle of a pet depends on the care and concern of the owner. Different breeds of hamsters have different life cycles.

• Syrian are large, they have good immunity, they live for about 3-4 years.
• In Dzungarian hamsters, the body length is 11 centimeters. They are very sociable, but at the same time they feel too much changes in conditions. For example, such animals can get stressed if they are moved out of the cage or if another hamster is moved there. If a hamster of this breed lives in nature, then its life cycle will be 13 months, and at home the baby can live for about 3 years.
• Dwarf hamsters are lightweight, they are susceptible to various diseases. It is important for them to choose the right food. At home, "dwarfs" can live for about 2 years.
• Siberian hamsters are outwardly similar to Dzungarian hamsters. These are very active pets with a life cycle of 3 years.

In the wild, the life cycle depends on the type of hamster - some live for 2 years and some can live for 7 years. In their natural habitat, these fluffy inhabitants are less likely to survive to old age, even if they lead an active lifestyle.

There are many predators like eagles or snakes that eat hamsters. Cubs may die first. But even older individuals are food for predatory animals and birds. For this reason, the average the duration of a hamster in the wild is about 1.5-2 years.

The lifespan of a small pet is determined not only by its breed or species. Household hamsters are very important care, as well as proper nutrition.

It is imperative to keep the cells clean. Any food debris that could spoil should be removed daily. For example, fruits or pieces of meat in the heat can slowly rot, leading to health problems. Also check corners and piles where the hamster can store food for later.

The bottom of the dwelling must be properly covered with filler. You can purchase corn or cellulose fillers. The pet needs constant care, every day you need to remove the wet filler and insert a fresh one. Animals are clean and can relieve themselves in one place. General cleaning and washing of the cage should be done 4 times in 30 days.

You can provide your pet with a playground, labyrinths, tunnels. If the hamster wants to move around the apartment, then it needs to be walked in a walking ball. If there is no walking ball, then the hamster may be in danger: it gets stuck somewhere, it will be pinched by the door, it will fall, eat poisonous plants, and it will be able to gnaw through the electrical wire. Keep in mind that an escaped hamster is very difficult to catch.

Do not leave the animal for a walk on tall objects such as a table or sofa. Some owners walk the hamster in nature, but an animal that has grown at home can be extremely stressed or sick.

If you let your pet go for a walk in nature, then, of course, he will be in danger. There, predators such as a dog, cat, rat, and crow lie in wait for him. The pet will easily run away, but will be lost. The environment is not suitable for a petfor example, wet, grass or hot sun will badly affect the animal.

A pet needs a balanced food that contains vitamins and minerals. Before buying, be sure to ask what products should be given to the animal.

You can feed your pet walnuts and peanuts, but almonds cannot be included in the diet, since the nut skin may contain harmful elements. It is not forbidden to give many vegetables, except for white cabbage. An additional additive is mineral stone, thanks to this, the animal can receive mineral elements. Also, the mineral stone helps the animal to grind down its incisors.

In general, grains are the main part of the diet. You can purchase specialty mixes at the pet store. There are also vitamins in expensive formulations. The pet can eat fruits and vegetables, which need to be cut into small pieces. You can also give a large piece of vegetable to grind the hamster's teeth.

Boiled chicken breast, eggs, insects, low-fat cottage cheese, seeds and nuts are fine for a hamster.

Hamsters should also not be given citrus fruits, potatoes, exotic fruits.

If there is no doctor nearby, then the owner of the hamster needs to know the symptoms of diseases and their treatment. All processes inside the animal's body are fast, so you need to study in advance the rules that will help the pet in case of illness.

Diseases can be divided into two types: infectious and non-infectious. There are diseases that have similar symptoms.

First of all, the owner must understand what is happening with the hamster. If the animal is healthy, then it leads an active lifestyle and eats well. In healthy pets, the coat should be dry, thick, shiny and smooth, and the eyes should be clear and clean.

A sick hamster has the following symptoms:

• appetite is impaired: the hamster completely or partially refuses food, selectively eats food, his thirst increases;
• saliva flows profusely - there is wet hair on the chin, neck, chest;
• in an animal, diarrhea - the back half of the body has wet hair or traces of feces;
• in addition to diarrhea, there may be constipation - the stool is dry and hard or absent at all;
• the eyes are watery or pus is released from them;
• breathing is difficult, mucus and wheezing are released from the nostrils;
• there are problems with the skin: the coat is dull, peeling, has bald patches, wounds;
• the hamster becomes lethargic, moves a little, constantly lies;
• the nervous system deteriorates - coordination is impaired or convulsions appear;
• the body becomes swollen.

If there is any violation of the daily routine of the pet, then this will cause concern and examination of the animal.

Breed and genetic predisposition can affect a hamster's lifespan. If a pet had animals in the genus that lived for a long time, then it is highly likely that this hamster will also live longer than its relatives. Before buying an animal, you need to find out about the pedigree of the pet, find out about the parents of the animal, about their health, about diseases, if any. These signs will help you get a good animal that will live a long time.

Important! Long-lived hamsters are animals that are 3-4 years old. There have been cases when a Syrian hamster could live for 7 years. In the wild, animals can die in a year and a half, because they are unable to adapt to natural conditions, and become food for predatory animals. Syrian hamsters are large and can be mistaken for a guinea pig because of this. The average length of the animal is 14-16 centimeters, their weight is 111-126 grams. The animal has a golden yellow or reddish brown color.

Animals of this breed have a habit of keeping food in their cheek pouches. Due to this process, the cheeks can become enlarged. Such pets have good immunity, they rarely get sick. In order for the animal to live longer, special conditions of detention must be created for it.

• No other rodents can be colonized inside the cage, because the Syrian hamster is considered the owner. He will defend his cage and quarrel with congeners.
• You need to put the wheel on for running so that the hamster wastes its energy. The animal is active and can run about 7 kilometers in one night.

Dzungarian hamsters are very restless and mobile. For them, you need to purchase a wheel and tunnels. Animals of this breed can live for a long time both at home and in the wild. They should always be walked at home and monitored for their actions. Outwardly, Dzungarian hamsters look like mice. They are about 11 centimeters long and weigh 41-66 grams. The color is brownish grayish, and in winter it is silvery gray. The Dzungarian breed also has innate thriftiness, so animals collect and put all supplies by their cheeks, even if an inedible object (soap, thread, paper) comes across.

So that nothing happens to the hamster, he needs to set aside an area for walking. But before you release the animal from its home, complete order should be put in the apartment. Hamsters of the Dzungarian breed are small in size, and for this reason alone they live less than the Syrian ones. Their life expectancy is about 2-2.5 years.

Siberian hamsters are similar to Dzungarian hamsters: they have almost the same size and proportions (length - about 11 centimeters, weight - about 26-51 grams). In addition, pets have a blackish-gray color and a brown strip along the back. A characteristic feature is a color change: in winter, the hamster acquires an almost snow-white tone. The animals are unpretentious and calm. The animal can do well in a cage and aquarium, it will not need a wheel. The Siberian pet is nocturnal. He does not need cohabitation with relatives. Animals of this breed live up to 3 years.

Dwarf hamsters are 6-8 centimeters long and weigh about 51 grams. This breed has three varieties, differing in color:

• Campbell's hamster is brown;
• Roborovsky's pet has a golden-white belly;
• Taylor's animal is gray.

The Surgut hamster belongs to the dwarf ones. Small pets eat a lot, they even overeat, so you need to look after them. They are mobile animals, and constant walks and space are important to them. Due to the fact that the animals are small, they can live for 2 years.

Life expectancy can be increased by providing comfort in the cage.

• The average size at the base of the cage should be 32x72 centimeters.
• Inside the cage, there should be a separate house where the animal can hide.
• You will definitely need a small bowl of sand so that the animal can clean its fur. This hygiene procedure is beneficial for the animal.

Let's summarize the life expectancy of pets, having read the short table.

Pets like hamsters need good grooming, so there are some helpful tips from zoologists to follow.

For a hamster, you need to prepare a cage that is medium in size. The cage should not be tall. You can put a wooden house inside the pet's dwelling. But the cage itself does not need to be made of wood, because the hamster can chew on its home.

A good solution would be to purchase a metal cage, but it is not recommended to buy a dwelling made of copper. You can also take an unnecessary aquarium instead of a cage. Some owners also use a regular box, and to make the hamster feel comfortable, you can put scraps of cloth, soft paper or cardboard inside the box. Thus, the pet itself will be able to arrange a nest.

The standard sizes of a pet house are:

• height - 13 centimeters;
• width and length - 16 centimeters each.

You cannot put your pet in a three-liter glass jar, as the animal will feel cramped and stuffy. You need to install a wheel inside the house, the hamster needs it.

The most difficult part of keeping an animal is the toilet. To avoid odor, the bottom of the house should be retractable. At the bottom you need to put organic glass or plastic. With the slide-out tray, you can quickly clean up debris and eliminate odors. The pallet should be sprinkled with sawdust from non-resinous wood species.

The hamster's house should be cleaned once a week. Once 30 days, you need to disinfect the home with a 0.2 percent solution of bleach. The cage must be emptied without disturbing the pet or its supplies. If you throw away supplies, then the animal will experience stress. The only exceptions are perishable foods.

A hamster is an absolutely safe pet, it is quite possible to buy it for a child. It is not difficult to care for and keep an animal at home. The main thing is to provide care on time and provide a complete diet.

For how long hamsters live, see the next video.