Can Hamsters Swim? The Truth About Hamster Swimming
Are you curious if your hamster can swim? As a pet hamster owner, I’m constantly curious about all the fun facts and knowledge about hamsters so I can get to know my pet better.
Hamsters are tiny mammals that belong to the rodent family, which includes guinea pigs, gerbils, rats, and sugar gliders. Most mammals can swim in water without much training. Since hamsters are mammals, that also means that they can, too!
In this article, we will explore the swimming abilities of different hamster breeds, whether hamsters like swimming, and if it’s good for them.
Happy reading!
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Can Hamsters Swim In Water?
The short answer is yes, they can swim in the water. But whether they like swimming or if it’s good exercise for them is a different story altogether. Before we explore these topics, first let’s look at hamsters’ origins and habitat in the wild.
Hamsters are believed to have first been recorded scientifically in 1787 in the 2nd edition of the Natural History of Aleppo. The first hamster species recorded are the Syrian hamsters, found in the region of Mount Aleppo in Syria.
Hamsters are naturally acclimatized to dry and warm weather and are usually found in steppes, sand dunes, and deserts.
Now you might wonder, since they lived in dry areas in the wild, are they used to swim in water? Well, swimming is unnatural for them since they don’t come across large bodies of water like lakes and rivers in their natural habitat.
Different Hamster Breeds And Their Abilities To Swim
1. Can Syrian Hamsters Swim?
Yes, studies showed that they could swim in water using all their limbs.
However, swimming in water is not a natural activity for hamsters in the wild and therefore should be avoided at all costs. Just because Syrian hamsters can swim doesn’t mean they can do it for recreational purposes.
2. Can Dwarf Hamsters Swim?
Even though dwarf hamsters are tiny, they have similar swimming capabilities just like Syrian hamsters. While researching online, I found that most dwarf hamsters don’t like to swim as they will always try to escape from the water.
3. Can Robo Hamsters Swim?
Like Syrian and dwarf hamsters, Roborowski hamsters can swim to save themself in case of emergency, but they are not good swimmers.
Never allow your Robo hamsters in large pools of water, as they might drown in it!
Is Swimming A Good Exercise For Hamsters?
Personally, I was conflicted to provide a definite answer here. We discussed previously that water doesn’t come naturally for hamsters, and swimming is not natural for hamsters except to save themselves.
While scouring the Internet for more data-backed evidence, I found that swimming is beneficial to the Syrian hamster’s cardiovascular health. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the hamsters are under extreme stress and anxiety when they are subjected to swimming in the study.
Judging from personal experience and advice from other hamster owners, even though hamsters are physically able to swim, swimming is not a good exercise for them. Hop on to the next section to find out why.
If you’re looking for entertaining activities and exercises for your hamsters to try, check out these activities instead.
1. Hamster Wheels
2. Hamster Balls Exercise
3. Build Tunnels For Your Hamster To Dig
4. Buy A Cage With Horizontal Bars So They Can Climb
5. Buy Hamster Tubes So They Can Run Around
Do Hamsters Like Water?
There’s no conclusive evidence to this question, but if I can conclude based on my experience with hamsters – they don’t like water. Now you might ask, how do I come to this conclusion?
Different hamsters have different reactions toward water, right?
Although I’ve never subjected my pet hamster to swimming, I noticed that most hamsters often wade frantically when placed in water. They will always try to swim to the edge and escape to dry areas if possible.
Watch this video to see the hamster’s reaction to water. Watch it at your own discretion, as it is extremely cruel to see the hamster swimming. You can see that the hamster kept trying to escape from the sink.
Can Hamsters Get Wet? Why Not?
Hamsters shouldn’t be placed in large pools of water. In fact, they shouldn’t get wet unless necessary – in emergency situations or when instructed by the vet.
1. It Causes Anxiety
How would you feel if you’re placed in a foreign space where it’s cold and you struggle to breathe while having to paddle your limbs to stay afloat?
That’s most probably how hamsters feel when they are forced to swim in the water. Water doesn’t come naturally to hamsters in the wild since they prefer dry climates.
It is also observed that some hamsters freeze in shock when they come in contact with water, a behavior commonly seen in rodents when faced with danger.
Even if hamsters swim instinctively when placed in water, they do that to save themselves, not for pleasure!
Do not place your hamster in water as it will cause emotional distress and anxiety, which may weaken their immune system and make them more prone to illnesses.
2. It Strips Away Natural Oils From Their Fur
Just like how humans have oil glands on our hair follicles, hamsters also have sebaceous glands and scent glands that produce oil naturally.
When a hamster grooms itself, it will lick the glands to spread oil all over its fur, and this helps it to maintain a glossy coat of fur.
Water removes these natural oils from hamsters’ fur, leaving it dry and coarse. Hamsters are unable to retain warmth in their fur and regulate their body temperature.
This may lead to potential illness such as hypothermia, a condition which I’ll further explain below.
3. It May Cause Hypothermia
Hypothermia happens when your hamster’s temperature falls dangerously low – below 65 degrees Fahrenheit/18 degrees Celcius for more than 24 hours.
This happens when your hamster loses body heat faster than it can produce heat to warm itself. Hypothermia is extremely dangerous as this usually means they won’t survive for very long as they have no other resources stored in their body to produce energy.
Placing your hamster in water, especially when the room temperature and water temperature vary greatly, might cause hypothermia in hamsters.
This is especially true during winter months when the outdoor temperature drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or around 4 degrees Celcius.
Can Hamsters Bath In Water?
We discussed above the reasons why hamsters shouldn’t get wet.
Naturally, that also means that it is not necessary for hamsters to bathe in water. If you’re wondering can hamsters swim in bathtubs or sinks, the answer is no, they can’t.
As a hamster owner, you most probably have seen your pet hamster grooms itself – licking its hands and feet, pulling and tugging its fur, and the likes.
Just like cats, hamsters are perfectly capable of grooming themselves. They don’t need additional cleaning unless their fur is stained with sticky or toxic substances.
Alternatives To Water Baths
If your hamster has a skin disease or a stained patch on its fur, follow these steps to clean it safely.
1. Pick your hamster up with care
Pick your hamster up from the cage when it’s awake. Make sure you don’t wake it up suddenly when it’s asleep. You wouldn’t like to be disturbed during your sleep, right? Your hamster doesn’t like it either.
2. Stroke your hamster to calm it
Pick your pet hamster up by the back of its neck and stroke it gently to calm it. Your hamster loves to be touched, and they thrive on human interactions.
3. Brush your hamster gently
With a hamster brush or hamster comb, brush it gently to remove all the trapped dirt and debris from its fur. You can also use a toothbrush if you don’t have any of these at home.
If your hamster’s fur is stained, wet the brushes and comb it thoroughly a few times until the stain is removed.
4. Dry your hamster thoroughly
Let your hamster dry completely before placing it back into the cage.
Can Hamsters Drown In Water?
Although hamsters are perfectly capable swimmers, rodents like them are not strong swimmers. Just like humans, hamsters will drown when water enters their lungs and prevents them from breathing.
They might fall into large bodies of water from which they become exhausted from swimming too long and being unable to escape.
Quick Guide To Drowning Hamsters
In case your hamster experiences near drowning from falling into a deep pool of water, remove it from the water immediately. Check its breathing and pulse.
Scenario 1: If Your Hamster Is Breathing
Step 1:
Rinse it with warm water. Yes, it seems counterintuitive since you’re not supposed to bathe a hamster in water, but this step is especially important if your hamster falls into pools of unknown or toxic liquid.
Step 2:
Dry it thoroughly with a towel. If your hamster’s fur is thick, try using a hair dryer to blow dry their fur completely.
Step 3:
Place it in a warm and dry place for your hamster to dry completely.
Step 4:
Monitor its condition for 5-10 minutes in case of extreme anxiety and hypothermia.
Step 5:
Bring it to the vet if more symptoms appear.
Scenario 2: If Your Hamster Is Breathless:
Step 1:
Try to resuscitate it by removing water from its lungs. This can be done by holding your hamster upside down.
Step 2:
If it’s breathing again, then repeat steps 2-4 above.
Step 3:
If it’s still not breathing, take it to the vet immediately.
FAQs
Do Hamsters Like Playing In Water?
Due to their warm and dry natural habitat, hamsters wouldn’t normally encounter water. This also means that they most probably wouldn’t like to play in water even though they can survive temporarily in water.
What Happens If You Put A Hamster In Water?
Your hamster will most likely get a temperature shock from having wet fur.
Hamsters’ bodies are sensitive to a sudden shift in temperature as they usually live in warm and dry areas in the wild. They might shiver immediately once placed in cold water.
Can I Wash My Hamster With Just Water?
Unless absolutely necessary or instructed by your vet, never bathe your hamster with water.
Hamsters come from naturally dry and warm areas, so water baths are not natural for them. Water baths will damage their coat and strip natural oils from their furs. Try sand baths instead!
Can I Spray My Hamster With Water?
This depends on the amount of water that comes into contact with your hamster. Under normal circumstances, you’re advised not to use water to clean your hamster unless absolutely necessary.
This happens when your hamster is still dirty even though you have bathed it in sand or if something is stuck to its coat. Exercise caution, as soaking your hamster in water for long hours is detrimental to its health.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it!
Can hamsters swim? Yes, hamsters can swim if they need to but it’s probably not a good exercise idea for them. It’s best to keep water away from your hamster as they most probably wouldn’t enjoy swimming in the water.
What’s more, it might even cause extreme shock and lead to illnesses such as hypothermia and eventual death. Whether it is to clean your hamster or to find an exercise your hamster enjoys, it probably doesn’t involve water.
Have you ever seen hamsters swimming in the water? Share with us your experiences in the comments below!
