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Questions
- Do Hamsters Hibernate?
- When Do Hamsters Hibernate?
- How Long Do They Hibernate For?
- What to do When Your Hamster is Hibernating?
- Should You Wake a Hibernating Hamster?
- Can you Prevent Hamsters from Hibernating?
Knowledge on hamsters is still a bit patchy and there’s a whole lot of misinformation out there about their habits, favoured environments and behaviour. The internet is full of conflicting advice and lots of different opinions, but lots of research has gone into the behaviour of our furry critters. Both in captivity and in their natural habitats to shed a bit of light on their mysterious ways.
Many owners can have quite the scare if their hamsters go into hibernation and think they’re either sick or dying, but we’re here to clear up any misunderstandings. We have all the information you need about hamster hibernation, what it is, when it happens and what to expect if your beloved pet goes into hibernation.
Do Hamsters Hibernate?
There are lots of different species of hamster and each one has slightly different hibernation habits. Hibernation is typically a period, mostly over the cold winter months when food becomes less available, and many species of animals enter a dormant state to conserve energy. They can remain in such a state for up to several months to avoid the harsh conditions.
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Hamsters are all a little bit different, and their natural behaviour has changed due to domestication and environmental changes in climate. Even their wild cousins have shown changes in their hibernation habits.
The European Hamsters are the only true hibernators of the hamster world and will typically hibernate through the winter in a very predictable pattern.
Dwarf Hamsters don’t tend to hibernate. While Syrian Hamsters will enter a similar state to hibernation, only when conditions drop below a specific temperature or food becomes scarcely available.
When Do Hamsters Hibernate?
Hamsters have evolved to move away from typical hibernation and instead use something that is better described as an emergency hibernation state. It’s not defined by the time of the year but more linked to the conditions they’re kept in. What hamsters really do is enter a state called torpor. Torpor is a type of hibernation that can happen at any time of the year and is also known as permissive or facultative hibernation. It only happens when our furry friends need to conserve energy.
If the temperature falls below 18°C, then this is usually when a hamster may start to slow down and start to prepare to enter a state of torpor to conserve energy and wait for the environment to warm up and become more comfortable for them.
How Long Do They Hibernate For?
Hamster torpor can last hours to days, but is unlikely to continue for weeks or months, especially in our domestic hamsters living in homes. European Hamsters are the only species to hibernate for months at a time. Usually, occurring within the harshest months of winter.
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Similarly, our domesticated hamster may enter their emergency hibernation if the temperature drops too low, but it only lasts for as long as it takes to warm them up again enough to bring them out of it
What to do When Your Hamster is Hibernating?
If your hamster goes into hibernation, it’s not a cause for too much concern. It just means they need a change in their environment to avoid them needing to save energy. Part of caring for our beloved pets includes keeping them cool in the summer, nice and warm in the winter and making sure they have plenty of food.
If they go into hibernation, especially during the winter, it’s because the temperatures have just dropped a little too low for them to be comfortable. If you keep your hamster’s home near a window or a door, they might be getting an icy draught even when the rest of the house is warm and comfortable.
If you notice them start to slow down and not come out of their bed, you can check where you’re keeping them to make sure there are not any obvious mishaps that could be causing an excessive loss of temperature.
Keeping their cage on cold surfaces, in quiet rooms or by a radiator that’s turned off are all factors that can lean your hamster into hibernation.
If they do enter their hibernation stage, it’s important to check their breathing and monitor their heart rate to rule out them being sick before they enter it. As domestic hamsters only hibernate when conditions become less than ideal for them, as an owner it becomes your job to try to resolve it..
Should You Wake a Hibernating Hamster?
Owners should do everything in their power to help their hamsters come out of hibernation, but that doesn’t mean going into their enclosure and trying to awake them. Hamster torpor is brought on when conditions are too hazardous or difficult for your hamsters to comfortably thrive in, so waking them doesn’t mean anything physical, it means changing their conditions.
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Avoiding opening the windows where your hamster stays and having the heating are perfect gradual steps to avoid their body going into shock in the colder months. One of the best places to warm a hamster if they’ve gotten too cold is the airing cupboard, they’re usually nice and warm so a few hours in there will have them waking up to a nice meal and feeling their normal selves.
Can you Prevent Hamsters from Hibernating?
You can prevent a hamster from going into hibernation and that’s by keeping their environment warm. The ideal temperature for your furry friend is between 18 and 24°C. Anything below their comfort range over a period can risk hibernation. If they always have an abundance of food and don’t get too cold throughout the winter, you should be able to easily prevent them from going into hibernation. Many domestic hamsters and beloved pets can spend their whole life without ever going into torpor once.
To make sure your four legged friends have nice insulating bedding over the colder months and for all of your other hamster essentials, check out our wide range online and in-store.