1.5-3 Years
The lifespan of dwarf hamsters is usually between 1.5 and 3 years, and the specific lifespan varies depending on the breed and feeding conditions. The following are the key influencing factors and detailed explanations:
Main Lifespan Range
Lifespan of Common Breeds
The average lifespan of most dwarf hamsters (such as Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters and Roborovski Hamsters) is 1.5-3 years. Among them, some individual Roborovski Hamsters can live up to 3 years or even 3.5 years.
The Roborovski Hamster (Desert Dwarf Hamster), as a special breed, may have a lifespan of 3-3.5 years due to its agile movements and relatively strong constitution.
Gender Differences
Male hamsters are generally longer-lived than female hamsters that reproduce frequently. However, the lifespan of female hamsters that have not given birth may be similar to that of male hamsters.
Key Factors Affecting Lifespan
Feeding Conditions
Providing professional hamster food, a clean environment (such as a cage with a base area of ≥ 47 square units), and facilities like a running wheel can significantly extend their lifespan.
Poor-quality food or a small, damp environment can lead to diseases and shorten their lifespan to less than 1 year.
Health Management
Regularly checking their teeth and cheek pouches, and feeding low-fat and high-fiber food during the old age period can help extend their lifespan.
Special Precautions
Female hamsters that reproduce frequently will have their lifespan shortened due to physical exhaustion. And keeping hamsters in the same cage is likely to cause fights, so it is necessary to strictly separate them into different cages.
There are differences in the lifespan of different breeds of dwarf hamsters. For example, the Syrian Hamster (a type of hamster different from dwarf hamsters) has a slightly shorter lifespan than dwarf hamsters, which is approximately 1.5-2.5 years.