In the article I will tell you how many Dzhungar hamsters and representatives of other breeds live on average. I will list the things necessary for the content in the house. I will explain how to determine the sex of a hamster and distinguish the boy from the girl, what name to name the pet.
How long do hamsters live
The average life expectancy is 2-3 years. Dzhungariki, for example, live 2.5 years, and the Syrian hamster is 2 years old. Roborovsky hamster is a long-liver and lives under 3.5 years for good conditions. The Chinese breed lives 2-3 years, and Campbell's hamster 1.5-2 years.
Life expectancy is affected by genetics and conditions of detention.
What you need for content in the home
Hamster is better to acquire at the age of 2 months. Deciding to have such a pet, you need to stock up with everything you need:
Aquarium and glass jar are not suitable for hamster living. The size of the cage should be at least 30 to 50 cm. The drinking bowl, preferably automatic, with clean water should be freely available for the animal.
For the cage, you need to pick up the filler, and the space itself needs to be cleaned and washed at least once a week, because even the best filler will not get rid of the smell, if the cage is dirty.
The cage should have two feeders for fresh and dry food. The mineral stone that the hamster uses to sharpen teeth can be purchased at the pet store and placed in a corner of the cage. A running wheel or a maze of pipes are also purchased at the pet store, toys should have smooth joints and smooth edges.
Feed rodents need 2 times a day. The diet should be balanced and contain not only dry food, but fruits and vegetables. Dry food is sold at a pet store and consists of a combination of different cereals. An adult hamster needs no more than three teaspoons of dry food per day.
Foods that need to be included in the hamster diet:
- The nuts
- Raw potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Carrot
- Apples and pears
- Corn
- Fish fat
- Boiled lean chicken
The list of prohibited items contains products with a high liquid content, for example, watermelon, cucumber, tomato.
Carrots, nuts and grain must be present in the hamster's diet
Addiction to a new home
An animal that has only adapted to the box must independently decide on moving to the cage. It is necessary to put the box on its side and wait until the rodent independently moves into a new house.
The new dwelling should be fully equipped, but during the adaptation the hamster will try to build a shelter from scrap materials or scoop all the filler into one place. In such cases, it is recommended not to change anything and allow the animal to be the master of its house.
In order to avoid the stress of a rodent, it is impossible to shout loudly and much and quickly move near its cage. Moving the cage from place to place is not recommended.
It is better to pre-select a place in the room where there is no draft and the direct rays of the sun. However, the darkest corner of the room will not work. If there are other pets in the house, ensure that their claws and teeth are beyond the reach of the rodent.
How to determine the sex of a hamster
If several hamsters, boys and girls live in the same cage, you need to determine and find out the gender of each of them in order to avoid the appearance of offspring or fights for territory. To determine the sex of a rodent, you need to take a pet in his arms, when he is calm, put his hand on his back, gently holding it.
You can not turn the pet sharply and over his head, it will scare him, and the hamster will bite the owner.
Females are larger than males, and their back is rounded
It is easy to distinguish - females are larger than males, and their back is rounded. In males, the back end is pointed and looks up. After 35 days of life, a pet is considered sexually mature.
In adult male hamsters, the testicles are well distinguished, in females, the tummy is smooth and three pairs of well visible nipples are visible. In females, the distance between the urogenital opening and the anus is less than in males.
Suitable names
Suitable Russian and English nicknames for females:
Nicknames for male hamster:
By acquiring a hamster should be approached seriously, to get acquainted with information about its content in advance, a rodent is not a toy, and not decoration. The hamster is a small pet that needs care and love, only then the rodent will feel comfortable and live a long happy life.
Lifespan hamsters
Life is so arranged that the smaller the animal, the shorter its life. Hamsters, unfortunately, is no exception. On average, they, regardless of the breed, will be able to please you for about 2-2.5 years. If you provide your pet with good care, he will be able to live for 3 or even 4 years.
Hamsters are very susceptible to disease. Diseases occur rapidly in them, and it is rare enough to cure an animal - the hamster dies. In order not to experience this nightmare, when buying, choose a healthy baby.
Given the short age of the hamster, it is advisable to buy a young individual. It is easier to tolerate the change of situation, quickly tamed. But the age of the hamster should not be less than three weeks, it is desirable that he was able to eat independently.
See what a hamster looks like. A healthy animal is mobile, with a quick response. It has a smooth, without bare spots, coat that fits tightly to the body, as well as shiny eyes and breathing without wheezing.
Buying a hamster is better in the pet store - this will give you a guarantee that you get a healthy animal. In the pet stores of all animals checks the veterinarian. This is important because Hamsters can be carriers of pathogens of various infections that are dangerous to humans.
How to extend the hamster life?
Put your pet in a spacious cage. Make sure that she stands in a secluded place where there are no drafts and direct sunlight.
Exclude dangerous objects from the cage that could cause injury to the animal. Do not use cotton wool as a filler, as the hamster is able to entangle in its fibers, and, trying to free itself, it can damage the foot. In the cage, use only a special filler. Do not replace it with a newspaper: printing ink can cause poisoning.
Do not create stressful situations for the animal. Hamsters do not like change, so do not move the cage too often. It is also not necessary to frequently carry out a full cleaning of the cage, disrupting the hamster’s usual life. Do not touch the products that he hid "in reserve".
Do not feed the hamster from your table. Many hamsters love "human" food. But this habit shortens their life.
Hamsters can not bathe. A pet may catch a cold and die from swimming. The hamster is able to keep his fur coat clean.
Do not think that the hamster is bad alone. On the contrary, this animal has an aggravated sense of territory, and its proximity to anything.
If you follow these recommendations, your pet will live a happy life of the duration that nature has given him.
So how long do hamsters live on average?
- Syrian hamster: 2-3 years (can live up to 5 years)
- Dzungarian hamster (Dzhungarik): 1.5-2 years (can live up to 3 years)
- Campbell Hamster: 1.5-2 years
- Roborovsky Khomyak: 3-3.5 years
- Chinese hamster: 2-3 years
Negative factors
Compared with the most popular pets, cats and dogs, which often live for more than 10 years, hamsters, of course, have a shorter lifespan.
Such a limited life expectancy often makes owners afraid and unwilling to form an emotional attachment to their pets. Some owners also underestimate the life of their hamsters, and, for example, do not show them to the vet during an illness.
Positive factors and opportunities
Rules of life. Most children grow up with a few pets in their lives. In the US, for example, hamsters are really popular as pets for children. Not only do domestic hamsters teach children responsibility and compassion, they also teach them life and death. This is not a very interesting and fun topic, but this is another way for children to understand how to let go of the situation.
Shorter commitment. It's pretty romantic to think about growing up with a pet that will live for 30 or 50 years. But not everyone can fulfill this commitment. A pet owner must invest money, time and his energy. Too often, people do not have enough forethought necessary to maintain a pet.
Given how fast the world is developing and how much we need to solve problems, it is natural that a pet with a short lifespan is, in fact, often a blessing. When our hamster leaves, we understand that we have time to take a breather.
Thanks. Finally, since hamsters have a shorter life, this actually encourages us to especially appreciate the value of our time spent together. We perceive things in the light of their importance to us and we expect that the memory of them in some form will remain forever. Most likely, you will agree that the pet's short and memorable life is more valuable than a long, but not memorable one.
Content
The little fluffy hamster is a funny animal that people often give birth to as a pet. It is especially interesting to play and care for rodents for children. Thrifty animals are miniature in size, so they occupy a minimum of space. The cage for their placement can be installed in any part of the room. Also hamsters are unpretentious in food, they are fed with almost any food.
Planning to have a cute and nimble pet, its future owners are interested in the question: how long do hamsters live at home? In captivity, rodents can live longer than in natural conditions, where they lie in danger at every turn.
How long does a hamster live at home and what does this term depend on?
On average, a funny pet is able to please its owners for 2-3 years. The lifespan of a rodent depends on the food consumed, the quality of care, the conditions of its location and many other factors.
The longevity of a pet depends on its state of health. At the time of purchase of the rodent should pay increased attention to this point. No less responsible is the process of hamster transportation. For this purpose, it is desirable to use a special cage, which must first be covered with a cloth.
It can not be strongly rocked during transportation so that the pet does not hit its head against the wall of the structure. You can bring the animal home in the shipping box, which has a mesh cover and comfortable handles.
In order for the pet to live as long as possible, it is necessary to choose an individual of middle age. A rodent that is too young needs special care, so it may not survive if certain rules are not followed.
Necessary conditions for the long life of the rodent
- Limit noise background. Hamsters do not like loud sounds, so do not need to compensate for the lack of their attention to the pet constantly working TV or radio.
- Exclude bright light. Rodents are contraindicated to be in direct sunlight, so you can not leave the cage with a hamster on the windowsill.
- Regular cell cleaning. Hygiene in a pet's home affects its health and longevity. Pet excreta must be removed once every two to three days, more thorough cleaning of the cage is recommended once every one to two weeks.
What determines the duration of life
Since how much a hamster lives at home is up to you, you need to know some details. The basis of care for a hamster includes several things:
- Diet
- The correct cell selection.
- Timely cell cleaning.
- Providing activity.
- How and what to wash the hamster cage.
From nutrition depends not only health, but also how many years live hamsters. There are foods that are included in the diet without fail. And some are generally strictly forbidden to give the animal. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish what will benefit and what harm. Teeth incisors grow all life, the rodent constantly grinds them. This is necessary so that they do not grow too large and do not harm the pet. Stitching also makes them sharper. Ideally, for this buy mineral stone. He gnaws him and grinds his teeth against him, while simultaneously receiving some kind of nutrient. If there is no stone, then put a wooden bar. In the absence of both, the hamster gnaws the cage and does not allow to sleep.
The basis of the diet is solid food that they buy at the pet store. It is recommended to give preference to the imported one, since before the domestic one it is necessary to buy in addition vitamins. Fresh vegetables and fruits are used on a mandatory basis and serve as a diet allowance. But before you feed, find out what vegetables can hamsters.
You need to be able to choose a cage for a hamster. It will affect his condition all his life. Choose depending on the type. For the Syriac, more cage is needed than for the djunarik or dwarf hamster. If the housing area is too small, it will not allow the animal to feel comfortable. Yes, and life will be boring. This very active animal is constantly moving. There must be enough space in the cage or terrarium to meet this need. Remember that a large area is better than a few floors.
Cell cleaning will affect the smell in the room and the health of the fluffy. It is not strange, but the life of a hamster at home also depends on it. If you do not remove, then the bacteria will be created that will knock down the health of the animal. Therefore, do this procedure at least once a week.
How many live hamsters live depends on their activity. If it is minimal and the animal almost never goes beyond the cage, then you should not count on a longer life expectancy. In nature, wild hamsters run tens of kilometers a day. It is necessary to maximize this need for a terrarium or cell. To do this, it must be running wheel. If it fits the animal in all respects, then it will overcome several kilometers per night.
It is recommended from time to time to walk the hamster around the apartment. To do this, you can just watch him closely so as not to lose sight of, or use a walking ball. The animal is placed in it and closed. In this form, he runs around the apartment and explores everything that interests him. Furniture and other things are protected because he cannot get out of the bowl on his own to chew on something. Walks provide additional activity and satisfy the rodent's natural curiosity. And it naturally rolls over.
Remember, this is a night beast. He sleeps during the day and demands this silence. It is no secret that the life of a hamster at home depends on sleep. Therefore it is recommended not to make much noise near the cage. Yes, and the room itself must meet certain criteria.
Hamster can be damaged by bright light, draft, strong or prolonged noise, viruses, bacteria, etc.
How many hamsters live in nature
The life span of hamsters at home is very different from wildlife. Despite the fact that there they are provided with sufficient activity, they face many dangers. Predators, who are always happy to eat fresh prey, reduce life expectancy the most. Many die at a young age and few live to old age. With age, the activity indicators fall, through which there is no past dexterity and attention to run at the right moment. The life span of a hamster can be either two years or several months. On average 1-2 years.
