How To Tell How Old a Hamster Is

You need to know when your hamster was born to figure out how old they are. Like all other animals, hamsters change as they age, and monitoring their health more frequently is crucial. If you bought your furry friend at a pet store and have yet to learn how old they are, there are some factors you can look out for that will help you determine their age.

Your hamster’s behavior and appearance can tell you its age. Hamsters that are not fully grown are typically under six months, whereas larger hamsters that are curious, playful, and eat well are generally between six and eighteen months. Older hamsters become lazy, eat less and lose their fur.

In this article, we will look at the different ways to determine how old your hamster is and help you to understand the best way of taking care of your pet during the different stages of life. So, if you have a hamster and need to know how old they are, read on!

Identifying a Hamster’s Age

The five species of hamsters sold as pets have different life spans, ranging from one and a half and three and a half years. This age difference might seem small, but fourteen days is equivalent to a year for a hamster.

Because of their short life span, it is essential to know your hamster’s age so that you can take care of all their needs.

Identifying your hamster’s exact age might only be possible if you know when they were born, but by closely observing your pet, you can determine its approximate age.

Ways to identify your hamster’s age include:

• Measuring their size and weight.
• Observing their physical appearance.
• Keeping an eye on their energy levels.
• Watching their eating habits.

By getting to know your pet, you can accurately estimate their age.

Hamster Age by Species

Hamsters do not live very long and need special care when they get old. One and a half years is considered old for a hamster, as most hamsters only live a little longer on average.

Here are the estimated life spans of pet hamsters according to their species:

• Syrian hamster: 2 to 2.5 years
• Winter White Dwarf hamster: 1 to 2.5 years
• Roborovski hamster: 2 to 3 years
• Chinese Dwarf hamster: 1.5 to 2 years
• Campbell’s Russian Dwarf hamster: 1.5 – 2 years

Newborn Hamsters

Your pet hamster does not look like a cuddly little fur ball at this age. Hamsters are born without fur and are tiny, weighing under three grams. Their eyes aren’t open, and they won’t do anything except sleep and feed.

Their eyes and ears will open as time passes, and at around ten days, they will start getting fur. Around this time, a baby hamster will also begin moving around to explore independently.

Between three weeks and a month, your hamster will start eating solid food and becoming much more independent. You will also see them playing and even fighting with their siblings.

So, if your hamster is super tiny and only starting to get its fur, it is likely under one month of age.

Adolescent Hamsters

Pups are super adorable, and although not as tiny as when they were born, they will still be really small.

At around four to six weeks, hamsters reach sexual maturity, and at this age, they will be taken away from their mother and separated to prevent mating.

Most hamsters sold in pet shops are around four to six weeks old. When buying your hamster, you can ask how old they are. If the pet shop doesn’t know, you can safely assume that your hamster is under six months if it hasn’t reached its full adult size and is independent and curious.

Mature Hamsters

At six months, hamsters are considered mature and should be their full adult size. However, if your hamster is full-size, active, and has good eating habits, they’re likely between six and eighteen months.

Here are some size and weight guidelines to help you determine whether your hamster has reached its full size:

• Winter White Dwarf hamster. It will be between 2.7 and 3.5 inches (6.9-8 cm).
• Syrian hamster. The largest hamster breed should be between 5 to 7 inches (12.7-17.8 cm) long and weigh between 5 and 6 oz (142-170 g).
• Roborovski hamster. This hamster will be between 1.8 and 2 inches (4.6-5 cm) when fully grown and should weigh 0.7 to 0.8 oz (20-23 g).
• Chinese hamster. Once this hamster reaches adulthood, it should be between 3.2 and 5 inches (8.1-12.7 cm) long and weigh between 1 and 1.6 oz (28-45 g).
• Campbell’s Russian Dwarf hamster. It will be between 2 and 4 inches (5-10.2 cm) long and weigh between 1.4 and 2 oz (40-57 g).

If you want to see a video of a hamster growing up, here is a fun YouTube video showing how a hamster grows from birth to a hundred days old.

How To Identify That Your Older Hamster Needs Special Care

So, now that you know how hamsters behave in each stage of their lives, it might be beneficial to look at some more behaviors that can warn you that your hamster is getting old. Understanding what to look out for can help you give your hamster the care it needs.

Here are some behaviors to look out for:

• Your hamster’s hearing will not be as good as before.
• An older hamster will stop running around and playing.
• A hamster’s eyesight will deteriorate with age, and they may develop cataracts or their eyes might be closed more often.
• Your hamster will not look for their food as often.
• They will stop digging.
• An old hamster will lose weight and cannot eat hard food.
• Your hamster will start losing its hair.

Ways To Help an Old Hamster Be More Comfortable

Once your hamster starts displaying the above behaviors, changing their environment and diet is an excellent idea to make them more comfortable. Taking care of an old hamster is not overly difficult; doing so will help them enjoy their last months or weeks.

Here are some steps you can take when your hamster gets old:

• If your hamster has a big enclosure with many toys and ladders, moving them to a smaller but adequate enclosure is best. Remove any objects that can hurt them or tempt them to climb. Also, remove any hard chew toys.
• Old hamsters lose their hair and get cold easily. Ensure that the enclosure stays at a constant temperature that does not fluctuate at night.
• Your hamster still needs exercise, so leave the wheel in their cage. If they have to jump to get onto their wheel, replace it with a lower one and encourage them to run in it.
• Because old hamsters lose their senses, they stop exploring or looking for their food. You don’t want your hamster to stop eating, so make sure to place their food and water close to where they like to sleep so they can easily find it. Also, start giving them water in a bowl instead of a bottle.
• Change your hamster’s diet. They will no longer be able to eat hard food and will need extra nutrients and protein to keep healthy. They will appreciate fresh food, and you can even give them supplements.
• Hamsters are clean animals, but as they get old, they can’t groom themselves like they did when they were young. So help your hamster stay clean and happy by giving them baths daily.

If you need a new cage for your aging hamster, you can get this Rubor Wooden Hamster Cage (available on Amazon.com). It is a simple but beautiful enclosure that will make your old hamster feel comfortable and at home.

The galvanized mesh roof and two side vents provide great circulation, while the wooden cage will keep in more heat than a wire cage. The enclosure provides a complete view of your hamster so you can keep an eye on them.

Final Thoughts

You might not be able to know your hamster’s birth date, but it is possible to tell how old they are by their behavior.

Knowing your hamster’s age can help you ensure they get the right care they need to stay healthy and happy.