How Much Water Do Hamsters Need? Here’s the Amount your pet Should Drink
Hamsters are desert-dwelling rodents that have adapted to live in dry climates. They are primarily found in the Syrian and Northern China deserts. As such, you might think the domesticated breed doesn’t need frequent hydration. But even in their native habitat, they need much water to survive.
So, how much water do hamsters need? Hamsters need about one tablespoon (10ml or two teaspoons)of water for every 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of their body weight. A typical hamster weighs 200 grams (7 ounces). Hence, it will need 20ml (2 tablespoons or four teaspoons) of water daily. This should be treated as a theoretical value, as many factors will affect your ham’s daily water intake.
This blog post will discuss the amount of water a hamster needs to stay healthy and happy. The post will also dive into some hydration tips for making sure that you’re providing it with the best possible care.
Water Requirements for Healthy Hamsters? Here is How to Know
![Water Requirements for Healthy Hamsters](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Water-Requirements-for-Healthy-Hamsters.jpg)
You already know that a hamster needs water to survive. But how much water does a hamster drink in a day? How much is too much and too little?
Well, here is precisely how much water you need to give your ham, depending on the listed factors;
1. Weight
While it’s true that hamsters are small animals, they still need water. You should give them 10 ml for every 100 grams of their weight. Ordinary hamsters have an average adult weight of 200 grams—so they’ll need 20 ml (4 teaspoons) per day.
Using this formula, if your hamster is 150 grams heavy, it will need 15 ml of water daily.
Dwarf hamsters usually weigh less than half that of ordinary hamsters. However, you should still apply the same formula for them. If they weigh 50 grams, you should hydrate them with 5 ml of water every day.
2. Ambient temperature
Ambient temperature can affect how much water hamsters need.
The average ambient temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if you live in an area with a high or low ambient temperature, you should adjust the recommended amount.
If your hamster’s habitat has a higher temperature than average, it will need more water than usual. The hamster will drink less water than usual if the habitat has a lower temperature. We can’t specify the amounts of water needed for each ambient temperature as it will vary based on a specific condition.
3. Hamster species
Hamster species are a factor that affects how much water hamsters need.
Some hamsters have adapted to dryer environments and therefore require less water.
For instance, Syrian hamsters need 5ml to 14 ml of water daily. Their Chinese counterparts need 11.4 ml to 12.9 ml every day.
4. Type of food consumed
Hamsters are omnivores. They can feed on fruits, seeds, meat and so forth. You should increase their daily water intake if their diet is composed of dry foods. If you’re giving them a diet with wet foods, it shouldn’t be a concern when they drink less water.
5. Hamster activities
If your hamster is super active, it will need a lot of water to keep up with the amount of exercise it’s doing. If it’s not active, the ham will not need a lot of hydration.
If you have a hamster that spends time outside of its cage, then it will need more water. Those that spend most of their time inside an enclosure where there’s not much to do will need less water.
6. Gender
Research shows that female hamsters consume more water than male hamsters. According to data published on the NCBI website, male golden hams need 5 ml of water daily per 100 grams of their weight, while females need 14.1 ml per 100 grams.
Their Chinese counterparts drink 11.4ml per 100 grams for males and 12.9 ml per 100 grams for females.
How to Know How Much Water Your Hammy is Drinking?
![How to Know How Much Water Your Hammy is Drinking](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/How-to-Know-How-Much-Water-Your-Hammy-is-Drinking-1024x542.jpg)
To know the average amount of water your hammy takes, you may want to check their water bottle. Fill it in and draw a mark on the water level. After 24 hours, check the final level and measure the amount of water consumed.
To get the correct value, ensure there are no leaks. Check their bedding daily to ensure they’re not wet from leaks. If there are any, replace the water bottle with one checked for leaks.
If you don’t see any leaks and the readings exceed the minimum requirements, your hamster is probably drinking enough water.
How to Tell if Your Hamster Has Dehydration?
![How to Tell if Your Hamster Has Dehydration](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/How-to-Tell-if-Your-Hamster-Has-Dehydration-1024x542.jpg)
Dehydration is a condition that occurs when your hamster’s body loses water. Various reasons cause it, but one common cause of dehydration is lack of access to water. If severe, dehydration could lead to death in all animals. Here is how to tell that your ham doesn’t have enough water:
1. Lethargy
When a hamster is dehydrated, it becomes lethargic. Lethargy is characterized by the following:
- loss of coordination and balance,
- decreased activity,
- inhibited movement, and
- decreased motivation for activities that require alertness.
2. Drying of mucous membranes
Dehydration can cause the mucous membranes in a hamster’s mouth to dry out, which makes biting more difficult because the lips are no longer lubricated. This can lead to skin irritation and ulceration of the mouth if not quickly treated. It also causes an increased risk for respiratory infections when respiratory tract moisture levels drop below normal.
3. Sunken eyes
If a hamster is dehydrated, its eyes will sink towards the back of the skull, and its eyelids will appear drooping or have a sunken look. This is because the cornea can no longer hold water and other minerals in its fluid chamber, causing it to sink and push away from the eye.
4. Rough hair coat
If your hamster is dehydrated, it may also have a rough hair coat. This is what was found from the health evaluation of such rodents, especially mice. It can be felt by gently running your fingers through their fur and noticing how coarse the fur feels compared to normal.
5. Breathing difficulties and slow heart rate
The hamster’s respiratory system has two main parts: the lungs and the trachea. They all need to be wet for optimal operation. When a hamster is dehydrated, it can’t correctly use its respiratory system, so it can’t get enough oxygen into its blood. As a result, their heart rate slows down or stops altogether because there isn’t enough oxygen for the muscles to pump blood around them.
How to Ensure Your Hamster is Appropriately Hydrated
![How to Ensure Your Hamster is Appropriately Hydrated](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/How-to-Ensure-Your-Hamster-is-Appropriately-Hydrated.jpg)
Follow these tips to ensure your hamster is drinking as much water as needed:
1. Provide clean quality water
The first thing to remember is that hamsters don’t like dirty water.
Hamsters are intelligent, and they’ll quickly figure out if their water is dirty or not. If they’re drinking from a dirty bowl, they’ll start to avoid it—and then they won’t drink as much! This can cause dehydration and even death. So make sure you provide them with fresh, clean water every day.
If you’re having trouble finding a clean, filtered water source, consider buying bottled water from the grocery store or pharmacy. You can also buy a small water filter to ensure you give your high-quality pet liquids.
2. Adjust water intake levels when needed
You can adjust water intake levels when needed by monitoring your hamster’s activity levels, temperature, and water consumption. If your hamster is more active than usual and drinking more water than expected, increase the amount of water given to them. If your hamster is pregnant or lactating, give them even more water.
3. Ensure the water temperature is right
All mammals drink a lot of water when it has the right temperature. So it’s a good idea to ensure that the water you provide is neither too hot nor too cold.
The best temperature for your hamster’s drinking water is room temperature (About 20°C or 68°F) for the best flavor. If your hamster lives in a cooler environment, you can raise the water temperature slightly by using a heating pad.
4. Refill water bottle or bowl constantly
You do not want your hamsters to run out of water.
You are supposed to fill the water bottle with fresh water every day. We recommend that you refill it in its habitat at least twice daily. If you see that they are running low on water, you should add more as soon as possible so they can continue to drink throughout the day.
As for the question, “How often should a hamster drink water?” Hamsters do not have a specific time when they drink water. They take it throughout the day and at night if they are thirsty. Hence, you must ensure their water bowl or bottle always has water.
5. Ensure the bowl or bottle is made for hamsters
The next thing you should do is get a water bottle or bowl made for hamsters. These containers are specifically designed with smaller animals in mind, like hamsters, so they can easily drink from them.
The best part about water bottles made for hamsters is that they’ll have holes in the bottom. The water pipe hole allows the water to drain easily and prevents your hamster from drowning (or at least spilling water everywhere). The bottle is also made with the size of a hamster’s mouth in mind so they won’t struggle drinking water from it.
Hamster bowls are also shallow and are not tall. Hence, a hamster can easily climb on them to reach out for water. They are also heavy and shallow to prevent tipping over and drowning, respectively.
6. Monitor water consumption
Mark with a pen on your bottle when you refill it with water. Take the readings at the next refill to determine if your hamster is getting enough water. If you notice that they are drinking much more water than usual, it could mean there are leaks. With leakages, all the water gets lost, and your pet won’t have enough.
Something is up if you notice your pet is drinking less water than the recommended amount. Check whether they are comfortable with the water bottle nipple or sick. You can try to use a bowl instead of a bottle to encourage them to take more water.
FAQs
Here are answers to some of the questions you might have:
Can hamsters drink water from the tap?
Some people worry that their hamsters will get parasites from drinking water from the tap. But this is not a problem as long as you ensure that any water you give your hamster is clean and free of contaminants. If you have any doubts, ensure you filter your water and constantly replace it. You can also give them bottled water.
What should I do if my hamster doesn’t drink enough water?
If your hammy won’t drink enough water, something is up. Either your water bottle is malfunctioning, or they don’t like to suck water from it. You could try to use a water bottle and observe its drinking habits. Consider visiting a vet if the ham doesn’t drink enough water even after switching the hydration method.
Can hamsters drink milk in place of water?
No. You can’t replace milk with water. Water is essential for hamsters, but milk is not. Milk contains other ingredients such as fats and other components which could impact your ham negatively. On the other hand, water contains no fats or calories. It’s pure and safe for hamster consumption. We recommend avoiding any milk that is not from the hamster’s mother.
Conclusion
Water is a vital component of a hamster’s life. It helps keep their skin and fur hydrated, which is essential for a healthy coat. It also helps regulate body temperature and blood pressure, keeps the digestive system moving properly, and helps them maintain energy levels. A hamster’s needs for water will vary based on age, gender, surroundings, species and activity level. Generally, female, active and young hamsters need more water. Most importantly, keep your hamster’s water bottle or bowl clean. Make sure it isn’t dirty or algae-covered. Also, replace it with fresh water every day or so. This will encourage it to drink more water and stay hydrated.