The 'Wheel' Of Life: How Long Do Teddy Bear Hamsters Live?

The average lifespan of teddy bear hamsters, which in actuality is just another name for the Syrian hamster or golden hamsters, is two to three years.

They can attain 4-7 in (10.16-17.78 cm) of length when they become adults and have a weight of 4 oz (113.4 g). However, genetics, breed, and upbringing play an important part in the pet teddy bear hamster's lifespan.

To ensure a longer life for a hamster, it should be kept in a large cage, with a good diet of fresh fruits and leafy vegetables to feed on, and also have plenty of exercises (like a wheel) which helps in increasing the lifespan of teddy bear hamster up to two to three years and make it more healthy. If humans are to keep it as a pet then a teddy bear hamster is not a long-term commitment as its lifespan is short. However, the world record for the longest living teddy bear hamster as per the Guinness World Record book is around four and a half years. Teddy bear hamsters are nocturnal so don't be surprised at night because of noises coming from their cage. The name of the hamsters comes from the German word 'hamstern', which means 'hoard'.

Teddy bear hamsters are most vulnerable to an illness called wet tail disease. Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), also known as golden hamsters or teddy bear hamsters, are the most popular hamsters to be kept as pets. Teddy bear hamsters are not socially active play hamsters. They should be kept in solitary in their cage after 10 weeks of age. They're also known as fancy bear hamsters! These large hamsters can make cute pets and are among the most popular breeds of hamsters. Teddy bear hamsters are low maintenance and easy-going. Among all these pouchy-cheeked, and cute hamsters, the Syrian hamster is very popular. Syrian hamsters can be seen in a wide variety of colors.

If you wish to handle them, the teddy bear hamster can be hand tamed, and they may start to appreciate being held and patted over time, but they never become extremely friendly. In addition, because teddy bear hamsters are nocturnal, they spend most of the day sleeping. Fancy bear hamsters are curious and adventurous, so they love wandering around, burrowing, and exploring. They’re very small, but their bites can hurt very badly sometimes. So, try not to surprise your hamster when you want to handle them. These Syrian hamsters are little furry animals and generally enjoy having playtime with humans at a place with lots of space and this can reduce the stress levels.

Hamsters lay seven to eight pups at max generally at the age of eight to nine months or more. Typically the breeding age of hamsters starts very early when they are young pets, but it is not generally preferred for teddy bear hamsters to breed at a young age.

If you want to read more about these little cute furry creatures, you can get some insight on where do hamsters come from and why do hamsters run on wheels on our website.

Lifespan Of A Teddy Bear Hamster

The lifespan of the teddy bear hamster is up to two to three years. The oldest hamster on record lived for seven years. These hamsters reach adulthood at four months.

These hamsters are susceptible to a condition known as wet tail disease, which causes bacteria in the intestines to produce diarrhea and lack of appetite. A hamster with this condition should be taken to a small animal veterinarian for treatment. Hamsters' teeth are constantly growing, so provide wooden toys, mineral stones, and 'wheels' to chew toys in their cage. They are nocturnal so don’t be surprised if you hear lots of digging and movement at night. A teddy bear hamster’s cage should be thoroughly cleaned with mild soap and hot water once a week to prevent bacteria growth.

Syrian hamsters are also called teddy bear hamsters and sometimes golden hamsters, are among the most widely sold varieties of pet hamsters in the United States and other countries. They can be called very large among the other breeds of hamsters and are very docile as well, that's why they are known as a good choice for being a pet for children. The average lifespan which a teddy bear hamster has is of three years maximum. Very rarely will you see a hamster having a lifespan of more than five years.

To live like a pet, teddy bear hamster breeds require an aquarium of at least 10 gal (37.85 l) capacity or a similarly sized wire cage, as teddy bear hamsters or Syrian hamsters prefer to live in solitary and require good space to move around. Individual hamsters are not social with other hamsters but are friendly with humans. It is advised to keep these hamsters separated because of the possibility of either unwanted breeding or fighting. Hamsters always need to have clean bedding with plenty of fresh water on the side. You can also provide wheels, tunnels, toys, and a treadmill for entertainment and exercise for longevity. Avoid placing the cage at a place where there is direct sunlight.

Dwarf hamsters are the tiniest breed of hamsters and look very similar to mice. Being of very small size, these animals are still among the favorites of humans to pet. You can always see the cheeks of a hamster full of food all the time. The average lifespan which these hamsters have is about two years or slightly more, but each hamster species is unique in itself. There are many breeds of hamsters such as Chinese, Russian, and Roborovski. Dwarf hamsters can attain a length of 3-4 in (7.62-10.16 cm) at the maximum and weigh 2 oz (56.7 g). Chinese dwarf hamsters can have a lifespan of three years or more.

Male Vs Female Teddy Bear Hamster Lifespan

The lifespan of the male hamsters is a little longer than that of a female's. A male can live up to 96 weeks, while a female can live up to 82 weeks. The average lifespan of which a teddy bear hamster lives is about two to three years. Very rarely, you can see the teddy bear hamster living for five or six years, though it is possible but very unlikely.

In about four months, these hamsters attain their adolescence. They get weaned by their mothers when they are about three weeks old. The male hamster shows very friendly behavior than the female hamsters who are a little aggressive as compared to males. Teddy bear hamsters can attain sexual maturity in six weeks, but it is advised that they should be bred after seven months. Hamsters usually have many breeding partners in their life. The gestation period of these hamsters is 18 days. Their gestation period is very similar to that of a mouse (20-21 days). A female hamster has 7-12 pups, in a litter.

Which breed of hamster has the longest lifespan?

Roborovski dwarf hamsters are known to live up to five years and have the longest lifespan among hamsters.

Roborovski hamsters' lifespan reflects the environment, genetics, and other factors. Compared to other hamsters, they live up to three to four years in captivity, though it is not a long time. They are ideal for new pet owners. A Roborovski hamster does need a long commitment like taking care of a dog because its lifespan is almost 10 years, sometimes even more. They can be good pets as firstly these animals are not very long-haired so you won't need to look for the shedding fur around your house. A healthy diet is very important for these animals to sustain, however.

Roborovski hamsters were originally found in Asian deserts, and some are found in parts of Russia too. They have been domesticated and are available in pet stores across the world. The Roborovski was named after the person who first started collecting them from the wild. In the wild, a Roborovski hamster who is nocturnal would like to run all night for food and is believed to run a distance of as many as four marathons every night. The male hamsters are known to form an active bond with their owners, and it is also known that the Syrian hamster can reduce their stress levels when they feel a bond of love with their owners.

How do teddy bear hamsters die?

Teddy bear hamsters can be sick and die due to fungal, viral, or bacterial infection, as can be seen in wet tail disease. Hamsters are easy spreaders of any disease amongst each other and should be separated at once.

The abscess can be formed in hamsters and it is extremely painful as it needs antibiotics and drainage by the vet. A hamster is very small in size to cope with this, and once it enters the bloodstream of the hamster's body, it can be fatal.

Another dangerous and serious disease that is triggered by bacteria is wet tail disease, this highly contagious disease is triggered by bacteria, stress and is commonly found in hamsters. The main culprit in this disease is a bacterial infection around the tail, diarrhea, fatigue and even as treatment is given by a vet, hamsters will not last more than 72 hours.

Health Concerns For Hamsters

We know health issues in a hamster are indeed a sorry sight to look at. But if you can detect them as early as possible, they can be treated very easily.

Hamsters depend on their ears a lot to navigate. There can occur serious problems with the ears of hamsters because of many reasons. Firstly, parasites can travel deep inside the ears of the hamsters and damage the eardrum, a lot of earwax can build inside the ears of the hamsters if you don't clean them regularly. This will lead to loss of hearing and pain too. Sometimes, the ear infections which they get can also spread to the brain of these furry creatures. It is less likely to happen, but sometimes ear tumors can also happen.

Hamsters are prone to get the respiratory infections, and this can also cause pneumonia. If you see your haired hamster sneezing a lot with discharge coming from the eyes or nose, you should immediately take it to a vet. This often gets accompanied by decreased appetite and activity.

Diarrhea in hamsters is quite common and has many reasons behind it like dietary changes, wet tails, intestinal parasites, antibiotics, and a few more. Sometimes because of overfeeding fresh vegetables and fruits, the hamster can get diarrhea. Dehydration should get checked regularly when you notice that your hamster is not drinking water properly. This Syrian hamster furry wild animals need to eat a good diet. Avoid giving them typically fresh foods to eat like vegetables to them having diarrhea, and start again only if they are able to digest them easily. The rapid change in diet is not a good thing for hamsters.

How To Take Care Of A Teddy Bear Hamster

The pretty and elegant fur of these creatures attracts people to make them their pets. The golden fur which these hamsters have also contains red lines on it. They are self-grooming creatures, but still, you need to make good efforts to take good care of them. They do not mind isolation, but they are usually kept in pairs.

You need to change the bedding of this hairy hamster almost once a week and should refill its food and water container every two to four days after cleaning them to maintain them fresh. If you have another pet also at your home like a dog or a cat, you should avoid their interaction and find a place at a higher level in your house to keep the hamster. Make sure that no other animal is able to reach up there near the hamster. Every once in two weeks, you should clean the cage of the hamster properly. You can put the babies in a box and then clean the cage by emptying the bedding. Scrub the hamster’s cage properly to remove all the dirt they leave. You can dry their cage in sunlight and later put on new bedding for them. A pet hamster needs to exercise daily for a few minutes at least and needs healthy hamster food (possibly from a pet store) because it is not in the wild where it needs to run to gather food and eat, and hence to be fit, it needs to exercise.

There is a need for trimming and cutting the hair of the hamster. If you smell a foul smell from the cage of the hamster, then it needs to be cleaned and get washed to get rid of oils from the fur of the hamster which can make it sick later.

One thing you need to know is that these little babies love to feed on treats. You can constantly put some treats in the cage of the hamster. But take notice of how fast your pet is eating the treat, as you should not give them more than one treat in a day. Hamsters like to chew on the pieces of wood too, and that is good because this prevents the behavior of biting their own lips.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do teddy bear hamsters, live then why not take a look at different types of hamsters or teddy bear hamster facts?