Hamsters have been known to break their legs and feet in wire wheels, Claudie says, and wire mesh wheels can be just as dangerous. Purchase only solid-surface wheels for your hamster and make sure your hamster has appropriate chew toys like soft wood blocks and hamster toys available to prevent unwanted chewing on wheels. Wood shavings can be potentially dangerous to small animals and can cause eye irritation, skin irritation and respiratory irritation, she explains.
On top of this, the ubiquitous aromas of scented bedding can disorient a hamster. Hamsters can only see a few inches in front of their faces, giving them a poor sense of height and making them more prone to taking flying leaps out of your hands. Hamsters are very excitable and don't handle stress well.
They may jump or bite if startled and can also develop stress related diseases, such as proliferative ileitis. Perhaps most important is the question of cohabitation. In general, hamsters should be kept singly. How Long Do Hamsters Live? Most of us buy our hamsters from the pet store when they are around 6 weeks old. This is because hamsters are born undeveloped, unable to open their eyes and with very little fur. In fact, hamsters require constant care from their parents for the first weeks until they are fully weaned and classed as mature.
Baby hamsters get weaned at around weeks and by weeks female hamsters are considered sexually mature although for some species this may take longer. Male hamsters tend to hit maturity at 8 weeks old, which is why it is important to separate them from one another at this stage — especially if they are Syrian hamsters who prefer to be solitary anyway.
A juvenile hamster tends to be full of energy, inquisitive and alert. We have noticed recently with Oscar, that he prefers to spend slightly longer in bed, takes more time to get moving and is quite happy to be cuddled rather than zoom around the room when it comes to playtime. This is because he is a hamster that is heading into old age.
On average, pet hamsters live to around the grand old age of 3 years, with a Syrian hamster being considered elderly when it hits 18months! Sorry Oscar, but you are an old man now. In the wild hamsters have can live for many years — longer than pet hamsters in captivity can — providing they steer clear of predators. In fact the European hamster, otherwise known as Cricetus cricetus, can live for up to 8 years! Large in stature this hamster is double the size of a Syrian.
Therefore, it stands to reason that the smaller the hamster, the shorter its lifespan. Syrian Hamster — the most popular species of pet hamster is the Syrian. This docile hamster can grow between inches and generally lives to be 3 years old. In the wild Syrian hamster numbers are declining due to a loss of habitat and the effects of climate change. It is therefore important that we preserve the lives of our pet Syrian hamsters for as long as possible. Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster — typically half the size of a Syrian hamster, these little fellows only grow to around 3 inches and have a life expectancy of 2 years.
In the wild, White Russian hamsters have the ability to change their fur to white as winter approaches, in order to hibernate. Due to artificial lighting, pet hamsters tend to remain the same color.
Chinese Hamster — These incredibly small hamsters are mouse-like in appearance and although they have a tendency to nip, they can be affectionate if handled regularly. If kept in a loving home, they can thrive for around years. Some hamsters will live for this amount of time, some hamsters will live for longer, and some hamsters will, unfortunately, have shorter lives. The longest hamster lived for 4. Related article: The life cycle of a hamster. The first two factors are beyond your control.
Genetics are also beyond your control. Some hamsters will have inherited genes from their parent and grandparents that help them to live a long life, while other hamsters will have inherited genes that lead to a shorter lifespan. Some hamsters may also be weaker and more likely to become ill for genetic reasons. On average, a hamster will live for around 2.
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