Do Syrian Hamsters Like Music?

Syrian hamsters are small, fun animals, and they typically make great household pets. However, their fragile and sensitive nature means they can be tricky to take care of. This brings us to our question of the day — do Syrian hamsters like music?

Syrian hamsters like music, specifically genres like classical, pop, and light rock. The exact music type will still depend on your hamster’s taste, but if you want to keep it safe, calming instrumental music is the way to go. You should also avoid metal or rap if your pet gets stressed easily.

In this article, I’ll talk more about what types of music Syrian hamsters like, how music may affect them, and other essential things you should know. Keep reading to learn more!

What Music Do Syrian Hamsters Like?

Most Syrian hamsters like the kind of music with calming melodies, so this includes classical and instrumental tunes. You can play piano instrumentals and acoustic songs and expect your furry friend to relax.

Some also respond positively to pop music, especially those songs with upbeat and repetitive tones. This is best played if it’s time to play or destress. It may be too energetic for their sleeping hours.

If you’re a metalhead or lover of rap, you may be able to get your Syrian hamster into that, too, but that is more on a case-to-case basis.

Syrian hamsters that are easily stressed and scared may react poorly to it. In fact, this is probably true of most hamsters. You may find a few oddballs that enjoy these harsher, louder music genres, but the safer bet may be to avoid them.

If you don’t have the time to make a playlist for your hamster, you can always look up curated music on Youtube. Here’s a great video that you can consider:

How Does Music Affect Syrian Hamsters?

Depending on your Syrian hamster, listening to music can either calm them down or stress them out. You must consider various factors, such as the kind of music, its volume, and your hamster’s general temperament.

Note that there are no scientific studies describing how a specific type of music will affect your pet. Therefore, you’ll have to figure out what your particular hammy enjoys on your own. So pay close attention to them whenever there’s music on to know how it affects them.

What Music Should You Avoid Playing Around Syrian Hamsters?

Because there are no studies on various musical genres and their effects on hamsters, there’s no data on a specific type of music you should avoid playing around your Syrian hamster.

Instead, you’ll have to learn what to avoid by trial and error.

For example, you may want to stay away from heavy metal or rock if your hamster previously showed signs of distress around it. If fast-paced songs bother your furry friend, opt for something slower and more soothing.

Other than that, feel free to experiment with various kinds of tunes. The key is to figure out what your pet likes and dislikes.

How Do You Know if Your Hamster Likes Music?

Although most Syrian hamsters show good reactions toward music, we still can’t say that each one of them likes it.

As the owner, it’s crucial for you to monitor your hamster. If you notice your pet getting stressed out when you play a particular tune, don’t play that kind of music again. If your hamster seems calm and relaxed during a particular song, that kind of music is probably okay.

That said, once you let the music play, take a good look at your pet. If they look curious about where the sound is coming from or even moving closer to the source, it’s safe to say they like it. There are bonus points if they stay near the music for an extended period.

On the other hand, if you notice weird behavior like shaking, moving around too much, or whimpering, you should turn the music off immediately and not play it again. You can try lowering the volume first to see if the loudness is what’s bothering them. If nothing changes, you’ll have to deal with your Syrian hamster not liking your tunes.

Tips When Playing Music for Your Syrian Hamster

Your job continues beyond just knowing whether your Syrian hamster likes music or not. You also need to be mindful of a few more things once you’re sure they’re comfortable with tunes. Keep reading the following sections to ensure your hamster’s optimal listening experience.

Keep the Volume on the Low

Hamsters may have the worst eyesight, but they have the sharpest sense of hearing. This means that even if the music is at an average volume for you, it may come off as a painfully loud sound for them.

Because of this, you should keep the volume low, whether you’re playing music for you or them. Be careful not to set it too high whenever they’re around, or the tunes may do more bad than good.

It’s important to remember this even when hosting events or having a particularly loud movie night. If you know your hamster’s area will be noisy for a while, you may want to move your furry friend somewhere quieter for the duration.

Monitor Your Hamster’s Body Language

We have already talked about what’s good and bad in the dictionary of hamsters and music. Now, the only thing left for you to do is to make sure that they are monitored throughout the time the tunes are played.

In other words, don’t turn on your tunes and go off and leave your hamster alone. You shouldn’t play the music if there’s no way to monitor your hammy. Remember, as with most things concerning pets, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Final Thoughts

So, do Syrian hamsters like music? The answer that you’re looking for is yes. Most of them like listening to music, especially classical songs, because it calms them. Some also like pop tunes that are upbeat and repetitive. Playing metal or rap is a trial-and-error since some hamsters like hearing it during playtime, but some get stressed because of it.

Whatever you play for your hamster, one of the most important things to remember is to mind the volume, the current environment, and their reaction. Doing so will help you know whether they feel relaxed or not.