Nibbly
Lifespan by species
- Winter white dwarf hamster: 1.5 to 2 years, sometimes a little more.
- Campbell’s dwarf hamster: 1.5 to 2 years; more prone to diabetes.
- Syrian hamster, for comparison: 2 to 3 years. Every difference is in dwarf vs Syrian hamster.
They live short lives because they are small animals with a very fast metabolism: in the wild, most do not survive their first winter.
What helps it live longer
- A sugar-free diet: hamster food, vegetables and very little fruit. Diabetes is one of their most common illnesses. More in what do dwarf hamsters eat.
- Exercise: a big wheel and room to run prevent obesity.
- Little stress: a quiet cage, no loud noise or scares, no waking it by day and no cagemates it fights with.
- Hygiene: clean, dry bedding and fresh water every day.
- An exotics vet as soon as something seems off: in such a small animal, problems move fast.
Signs it is getting old
From about a year and a half, it is normal for it to:
- sleep more and use the wheel less;
- lose some weight and muscle;
- have thinner, sparser or duller fur;
- move more clumsily or struggle to climb.
Not normal at any age: not eating, diarrhoea, lumps, crusty eyes or nose, or noisy breathing. Those need a vet.
Caring for an older hamster
- Put food and water within easy reach, with no climbing.
- Remove high platforms and tricky tubes to avoid falls.
- If chewing gets hard, add softer food such as chopped vegetables or soaked pellets.
- Weigh it every week: losing weight fast is a warning sign.
- Go at its pace: more sleep, less handling and plenty of peace.
In Nibbly they stay with you as long as you like
Nibbly’s hamsters do not grow old: their card counts the days they have been with you, and you can care for them as long as you like. Their health, though, is up to you:
- If they go hungry or thirsty, or get too thin, they fall ill and tell you so.
- Once you look after them again, they recover.
- Their hunger and thirst keep going down in real time even when you are not playing, as with a real one.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does a dwarf hamster live?
Usually 1.5 to 2 years. Some reach 3 with excellent care, but it is uncommon.
Which lives longer, a dwarf or a Syrian hamster?
The Syrian: it usually lives 2 to 3 years, while a Russian dwarf hamster lives 1.5 to 2 years.
How do I know if my dwarf hamster is old?
It sleeps more, uses the wheel less, loses some weight and its fur gets thinner. This usually starts at around a year and a half.