Lifespan of Dwarf Hamsters

A dwarf hamster can live for three years when kept as a pet, but can survive as long as five years in the wild. A dwarf hamster's life can be affected by injury, food poisoning, illness or housing conditions. There are things that can be done to help extend a dwarf hamster's lifespan.

  1. Environment

    • Providing a hamster with a safe, clean environment is essential to its health. The cage should be cleaned every week. Its food and water should be changed every day. The hamster cage's temperature should be maintained at between 60 and 90 degrees F.

    Food

    • Giving a hamster nutritious foods that are similar to what it would normally eat in the wild will also help it to live longer. However, vegetables, fruits and other foods that spoil should never be left in the cage for more than 24 hours.

    Injury

    • To ensure the safety of your hamster and prevent injury, avoid giving it plastic toys and other objects that might suffocate it. Handling your hamster often will help keep it tame and healthy, but be sure not to drop it.

    Veternarian Visits

    • Some diseases in hamsters are unavoidable and the hamster can get sick on its own. Home remedies should never be administered to a dwarf hamster. Consult a veterinarian as soon as possible if your hamster becomes injured or sick.

    Types

    • There are four types of dwarf hamsters: Campbells, Roborovskis, Siberians and Chinese.