Hamster Lifespan In The Wild

However each species and individual hamster is unique.
Hamster lifespan in the wild. We ve already mentioned that some hamster species live longer than others so you re probably wondering which type of hamster has the longest lifespan. This means they are born in an undeveloped state and require care and feeding from their. For the sake of comparison hamsters reach puberty after around 8 weeks of age. Whist syrian hamsters have been in captivity a long time their wild counterparts and other pet hamster species still retain the markings and colours of their wild forms.
In veterinary practice any syrian hamster older than 1 5 years is considered elderly. Smaller varieties of hamsters tend to live for only two to three years. Hamsters attain maturity in a very short time. The average life span of a hamster is around 2 3 years.
However the lifespan varies depending on the type of hamster and ranges from 1 5 to 3 5 years. Syrian hamsters typically live no more than two to three years in captivity and less in the wild. Wild hamsters often have light brown or grey coloured backs and pale stomachs. The smaller roborovski hamster often lives to three years in captivity.
Another way to increase the lifespan of a dwarf hamster in captivity is to give the hamster ample space for digging and running around. The siberian wild hamster a wild russian hamster lives in no surprise here siberia. Many people believe that hamsters live up to an age of 4 years or more. Wild hamsters often have their life span cut short by predators such as owls and foxes.
Hamster infants are altricial. The life expectancy of a hamster is short in part because they live in high risk environments where procreation is very important to a species survival. This is largely due to the diet of wild dwarf hamsters in comparison with domestic dwarf hamsters. Russian hamsters campbell s and djungarian live about two to four years in captivity and chinese hamsters 2 1 2 3 years.
When hamsters in captivity are fed properly their lifespans can be elongated. Another adaptation that wild hamsters have developed is their colouring. Russian chinese and roborovski. The lifespan of a syrian also called golden hamster typically lies between 1 and 2 5 years the average being 1 5 to 2 years.
On average a hamster will live for around 2 5 years. The wild dwarf hamster makes the highly variable sandy desert like spaces of mongolia their home. This hamster which can get up to fourteen inches or 35 centimeters long can live for up to eight years. Siberian winter white hamster.
In captivity the wild dwarf hamster is represented by pet breeds such as the campbell s or djungian hamster. Growing up to 2 to 3 inches and tipping the scales at up to 2 ounces dwarf hamsters come in three different species. The average lifespan of a dwarf hamster is one to two years.