Hamsters can also enter into a state of torpor when food and/or water are in short supply. Hamsters kept in cold and dark conditions are more likely to hibernate than those exposed to strong light for at least 12 hours a day. Light also plays a role in hamster hibernation. When this happens they can easily fall victim to fatal hypothermia. These hamsters are more likely to hibernate than other hamster species.ĭwarf hamsters and Russian Dwarf hamsters originated from cold climates and are less likely to hibernate at all.Ī real danger is when the temperature drops very quickly and unexpectedly, leaving the hamster with no time to properly prepare their body systems for torpor. Syrian, or golden hamsters, originated from a desert climate and a state of stupor for short periods was essential to survive cold nights. Others will hibernate but do so ineffectively and fall victim to hypothermia. Do Hamsters Hibernate Differently Depending on Breed?ĭepending on the species and individual characteristics, some will hibernate and some will never hibernate. So hamsters aren’t very good hibernators. Unlike true hibernators, permissive hibernators lose weight as conditions get colder rather than building up fat stores. Hamsters only hibernate when they get too cold. It could even take a month or two of cold temperatures before hamsters start hibernating. When cold conditions continue for at least 24 hours it may induce a state of torpor. Ideally the temperature in a hamster’s environment should range between 65 ☏ (18.3 ☌) and 75☏ (23.9 ☌). The usual reason why hamsters enter a state of hibernation is when it’s too cold. Pet animals, including pet hamsters, should never have to face the type of conditions that could induce a state of hibernation. For hamsters it’s not a necessary or an ideal state. But not like the animals that hibernate according to a natural seasonal rhythm. So the answer to the question “Do hamsters hibernate?” is that they do.
They can die from hypothermia or dehydration. Permissive hibernators don’t prepare for the torpor and the danger comes in when the conditions that caused it go on for too long. From a few hours to a few days, until conditions improve. It’s more like a deep sleep than true hibernation and lasts for a shorter time. In this second category the animals usually only go into state called torpor. This usually happens when it’s cold, but also when it’s too hot or there is a lack of food or water. These animals hibernate at any time, winter or summer, when extreme environmental conditions need them to conserve energy. Hamsters fall in the second category, called permissive hibernation. The type that usually comes to mind is known as obligatory hibernation – those animals who fatten themselves up during the summer, create a safe space, and hibernate all winter. They have now even found that there are major chemical changes in animal’s brains when they hibernate. Scientists have been studying hibernation because it could have many benefits in medicine if the state could be induced in humans, for example during heart surgery or after serious injury. They save energy by becoming inactive and turning their systems right down – their temperature drops and their heart rate and breathing become a lot slower. It keeps animals alive when it’s cold and when food and other resources tend to be scarce. First, we need to clarify what exactly it means to hibernate, biologically speaking.
DO GUINEA PIGS HIBERNATE HOW TO
But also, most importantly, how to prevent hamster hibernation. We’ll look at how you can determine whether you have a sleeping hamster or a hamster hibernating – or dead. When hamsters enter a state of hibernation it could be life-threatening. That’s why people often describe the fright they had with their hamster playing dead. You’ll learn that there are different types of hibernation and that pet hamsters don’t truly hibernate as we usually understand it.
Do hamsters hibernate? When do hamsters hibernate? Signs of hamster hibernation and how to keep your hamster safe.
Today we share our guide to hamster hibernation. How tell tell if they are in hibernation, asleep, unwell or even dead. Today we’ll look at if and why your hamster is hibernating. But not all hamsters that appear to be hibernating are actually deeply asleep. Do hamsters hibernate or is there another reason for their sleepy state? Hamsters can hibernate in the winter months if the temperature drops low enough.
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