How long do hamsters live?

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

As a rule, hamsters can live both in the wild and at home. In this case, the duration of their existence will be different.

In a flat environment, a hamster can live longer than in the wild. In addition, the life cycle of a pet depends on the care and care of the owner. Different hamster breeds live a different life cycle.

• Syrians are large, they have good immunity, they live for about 3-4 years.
• Djungar hamsters have a body length of 11 centimeters. They are very sociable, but they feel too much a change in conditions. For example, such animals can get stressed out if they are moved out of a cage or shared there another hamster. If a hamster of this breed lives in nature, then its life cycle will be 13 months, and at home the crumb can live for about 3 years.
• Dwarf hamsters have a small weight, they are sensitive to various diseases. For them it is important to choose the right food. At home, "dwarfs" can live for about 2 years.
• Siberian hamsters look similar to the Dzhungars. These are very active pets, whose life cycle is 3 years.

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

There are so many predators, for example, eagles or snakes that eat hamsters. In the first place, cubs can die. 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 life expectancy of a small pet is not only due to its breed or species. Domestic hamsters are very important care, as well as proper nutrition.

It is necessary to maintain the purity of the cell. Every day should be removed residues of food that can deteriorate. For example, fruits or pieces of meat in the heat can slowly rot, which will lead to health problems. Check also the corners and piles where the hamster can store food for later.

The bottom of the house must be carefully covered with filler. You can buy corn or cellulose fillers. A pet needs constant care, every day it is necessary to remove the wet filler and insert fresh. Animals are clean and can meet need in one place. General cleaning and cell washing should be done 4 times in 30 days.

You can provide a pet playground, labyrinths tunnels. If the hamster wants to move around the apartment, then he needs to walk in a walking ball. If there is no walking ball, the hamster may be exposed to hazards: it will get stuck somewhere, be pinched by the door, fall down, eat poisonous plants, and be able to gnaw through electrical wires. Please note that it is very difficult to catch an escaped hamster.

Do not leave the animal walking on high objects such as a table or sofa. Some owners skip the hamster in nature, but an animal that has grown up in the home can be very stressed or sick.

If you let go of your pet walk on the nature, then he, of course, will be in danger. There are waiting for him such predators, like a dog, cat, rat, crow. Pet easily run away, but lost. The environment is not suitable for a pet.for example, wet, grass, or hot sun will have a bad effect on the animal.

For a pet you need a balanced food that has 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 the almonds in the diet can not be included, since the walnut skin can contain harmful elements. It is not forbidden to give many vegetables, except cabbage. An additional additive is mineral stoneDue to this, the animal can get mineral elements. Also, mineral stone helps the animal grind off its incisors.

In general, the main part of the diet is cereals. You can purchase special mixes in the pet store. There are vitamins in expensive formulations. Pet can eat fruits and vegetables that need to be cut into small pieces. You can also give a large piece of vegetable so that the hamster can grind its teeth.

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

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

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

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. Healthy pets should have dry, thick, shiny and smooth hair, and eyes should be clear and clean.

A sick hamster has these symptoms:

• appetite is disturbed: the hamster completely or partially refuses to feed, selectively eats food, his thirst rises;
• saliva is abundantly flowing - there is a wet coat on the chin, neck, chest;
• animal diarrhea - the back half of the body has a wet coat or traces of feces;
• in addition to diarrhea, it may be constipation - the stool is dry and hard or absent altogether;
• eyes are watering or pus is released from them;
• breathing is difficult, mucus and wheezing is released from the nostrils;
• there are skin problems: wool is dull in color, flakes, has bald spots, wounds;
• the hamster becomes sluggish, moves little, lies constantly;
• the nervous system deteriorates - coordination is disturbed or convulsions appear;
• the body becomes swollen.

If there is any violation of the pet's life schedule, this will be a cause for concern and inspection of the animal.

Breed and genetic predisposition can affect the life span of a hamster. If the pet had animals that lived for a long time, then it is likely that this hamster will also live longer than its relatives. Before buying a pet, you need to know 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 to get a good animal that will live long.

Important! Long-lived hamsters are animals that are 3-4 years old. There were 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 not able to adapt to natural conditions, and become food for predatory animals. Syrian hamsters are large, and because of this they can be confused with guinea pigs. The average length of the animal - 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 cheek pouches. Because of this process, the cheeks can grow. Such pets have good immunity, they rarely get sick. For the animal to live longer, for it you need to create special conditions of detention.

• It is impossible to colonize other rodents inside the cage, because the hamster of the Syrian breed is considered to be the owner. He will defend his cage and quarrel with their relatives.
• You need to put a wheel for running, so that the hamster will spend his energy. The animal is active, and in one night can run about 7 kilometers.

Dzungarian hamsters are very restless and mobile. For them, you need to purchase a wheel and tunnels. Animals of this breed can live long in the home and in the wild. They should always be walked at home, as well as follow their actions. Externally, the Dzungar hamsters look like mice. They have a length of about 11 centimeters, a mass of 41-66 grams. The color is brownish-gray, and in wintertime - silver-gray. The Jungar breed also has an innate reserve, so the animals collect and fold all supplies for their cheeks, even if an inedible object (soap, string, paper) is caught.

To hamster nothing happened, he needs to allocate territory for walking. But before you let the animal out of his home, in the apartment should establish complete order. Hamsters of the Dzungar 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 Djungar: 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 sign is the change of color: in winter, the hamster gets almost snow-white tone. Animals are unpretentious and calm. An animal may feel well in a cage and an aquarium, it will not need a wheel. Siberian pet is nocturnal. He does not need to live together with their relatives. Animals of this breed live up to 3 years.

Dwarf hamsters have a length of 6-8 centimeters, their weight is about 51 grams. This breed has three varieties that differ in color:

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

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

You can increase the life span if you provide comfort in the cage.

• The average size at the base of the cell should be 32x72 centimeters.
• Inside the cage should be located a separate house where the animal can hide.
• Be sure to need a small bowl of sand so that the beast can clean its wool. Such a hygienic procedure is beneficial for the animal.

Let us summarize the life expectancy of pets by reading the short table.

So pets like hamsters need good care, so you need to follow some useful advice from zoologists.

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

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

Standard house sizes for a pet are:

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

You can not put a pet in a three-liter glass jar, as the animal will feel cramped and stuffy. Inside the house you need to install the wheel, it is necessary for the hamster.

The most difficult in keeping the animal is the toilet. To avoid smell, the bottom of the house should be retractable. At the bottom you need to put organic glass or plastic. By means of the sliding pallet it is possible to clear quickly garbage and to eliminate smells. Sawdust from resinous wood should be sprinkled on the pallet.

Once a week you need to clean the hamster's house. Once 30 days you need to disinfect the home with a 0.2% bleach solution. The cage must be cleaned without disturbing the pet and its supplies. If you throw away supplies, the animal will be under stress. The only exceptions are perishable foods.

Hamster is absolutely safe pet, it is quite possible to buy a child. Care and maintenance of the animal at home is easy. The main thing is to make care in time and provide a full diet.

For information on how many hamsters live, see the next video.