Can Swim
Hamsters have the ability to swim, but swimming poses health risks to them, and humans should avoid forcing them into the water.
Core Explanation
Physiological Characteristics and Instincts
Hamsters are born with the ability to swim, which is a life-saving mechanism for their survival in the wild. When facing danger, hamsters can escape by swimming. However, domesticated hamsters have weak constitutions due to being separated from the wild environment for a long time. After swimming, they are prone to sudden drops in body temperature, catching a cold, or even dying.
Differences in Adaptability to Water
Wild Hamsters: Due to the need to adapt to unexpected situations in their living environment, they have relatively strong recovery abilities after swimming.
Pet Hamsters: They have thick fur that dries slowly. After coming into contact with water, they are likely to develop hypothermia or pneumonia. Even if they get slightly wet, they need to be dried promptly.
Feeding Precautions
No Water Washing: For the daily cleaning of hamsters, special bathing sand should be used instead of washing them with water.
Avoid Contact with Water Sources: In the feeding environment, areas such as water pools should be kept away from to prevent accidental falls into the water.
Controversies and Misunderstandings
Some people hold the view that hamsters "can't swim." This may be based on their habitat habits in the desert or a confusion between the swimming methods of hamsters and those of other rodents (such as mice relying on their long tails for paddling). However, all authoritative sources point out that swimming is an emergency survival skill for hamsters, not a daily behavior.