Can Hamsters Swim? 4 Consequences. Super Sand Bath. What is sand bath? Do they like swimming? Do they enjoy the water or is it dangerous for them? Do you need to worry about any health risks if your pet gets wet regularly?
These are all questions that hamster owners ask on a regular basis.In this article, I will explore some of these questions,and give you some answers!
Can Hamsters Swim?
The answer to this question is yes. Hamsters can swim, but they are not very good swimmers. They can manage in the water if it’s only up to their tails. If you submerge them all the way under, they will either hold their breath or try to come back up for air before drowning. So no, your pet hamster cannot swim like a fish in its bowl of water.
Hamsters have a natural instinct to stay afloat and will push off the bottom of a water container such as a tub or box with their back feet for short periods. But this does not imply that they are good swimmers and that they relish swimming.
We must first understand what makes up a hamster’s body and what adaptations they have for swimming in their natural habitat.
Where Do Hamsters Live In The Wild ?
In the wild, hamsters live in a variety of biomes. However, most of them live in a desert climate. They adapt to their environment well and generally have thick fur which varies from species to species as they come from different areas throughout Asia and Europe. In their natural habitat, they can be found burrowing underground to escape from predators and for food storage.
Hamsters are burrowing animals, so most will construct elaborate tunnels underground for shelter, nesting/breeding sites, and hibernation during the colder months, when temperatures can get below freezing.
In the wild, hamsters live on dry land or underground where there is little chance of coming into contact with water. This makes sense because, in a desert climate, huge bodies of water are very rare and the chances that they will come into contact with them are slim to none. Since deserts usually don’t have many water bodies such as streams, lakes, or rivers, most hamsters do not develop excellent swimming skills through evolution.
Do Hamsters Enjoy Swimming?
This is an interesting question, because in reality, the majority of hamsters , irrespective of the breed type, do not enjoy swimming.
When we look at wild desert dwelling species such as Syrian hamsters (the most common pet breed), there isn’t much information available about them spending time in lakes or rivers hunting for food.
I have seen some hamsters voluntarily go into their water dishes to drink. However, that is usually the extent of it. Hamsters can swim if they need to, but I highly doubt they like swimming or enjoy doing so!
They are not natural swimmers and don’t possess the same adaptations as other animals who spend a great deal of time in water, such as otters, beavers, etc.
So no, your pet will probably never willingly climb into your pool on its own, nor would you want them to, because chances are this could lead to drowning. Hamster owners need to take care not to make available large bodies of water such as fish tanks and pools because these terrains pose a risk of drowning.
With all that being said, I think it would make sense why your pet doesn’t seem too keen on taking a dip with you! They are simply uncomfortable because they weren’t born to swim.
Can You Make Your Hamster Swim In Your Tub?
I would not recommend it.
As I previously mentioned, hamsters can swim if they need to, but their bodies are not designed for prolonged periods in water, which could lead to drowning and death. Chances are they will fight it. Do not force them into water because that could lead to serious injury or death!
You can never force a hamster to swim against its will. This is because it’s not very easy for them and they are going to be naturally resistant towards it.
I have seen a few videos on Youtube in which hamster owners put their pet hammies into bathtubs and film them “swimming”. In the videos I have seen them saying “look how cute they are” or “how nicely they’re trying to swim.”
When watching these videos, it absolutely horrifies me. This is because in these videos, the pets aren’t actually enjoying swimming but frantically struggling to escape the water, which means that they are under extreme stress and fearing for their lives.The hammies are not actually enjoying swimming, they’re trying to get out of the water as fast as possible–that’s why they swim frantically.
Such behavior will severely stress your hammie; worse, he may be afraid for his life!Attempting such activities under the impression that it would make him cute or fun to look at is incorrect and cruel!
Try Sand Bath Instead
Since hamsters are not designed for prolonged swimming in water, if you want to give them a “bath”, try using an old container with dry sand and giving them a Sand Bath!
The best thing to do is offer the pet a sand bath! This will allow your pet hamster to dig into it and get itself clean. It’s something that they would normally do in the wild as well, so this idea makes sense.
When doing this correctly, it will be fun for both you and your hammie! Watch how excited he gets when digging around in there-it’s quite funny actually! It also serves as an excellent alternative to traditional bathing. This reduces stress by removing excess dirt,oils etc from his fur while keeping him entertained at the same time.
Click Here To Read More About How To Give A Sand Bath To Your Hamster.
Consequences of Forcing Your Pet Hamster to Swim
I don’t want to be a drama queen, but forcing your pet to swim against his will and without consent could lead to serious health concerns.Hamsters are not adapted to swimming and it would be similar to forcing a human being with no prior swimming experience into an Olympic sized pool for example-the effects could be very harmful, especially if they’re forced against their will!
- Can Cause Skin Irritations: The first thing that comes to my mind is the effect of prolonged exposure to water on your pet’s skin. If you do force your pet to swim, it’s going to get wet and soak its cotton-like fur. Your hamster’s coat gets stripped off of its natural oils, and this can make it very dry and irritable.
These skin irritations may become infected too, which is just one more reason to avoid this activity!Prolonged exposure to water could leave them open for bacterial infections.
- Can Cause Pneumonia :If your pet is not used to swimming and you make him do it, he’s probably going to take in a lot of water while struggling.This can lead to pneumonia because his lungs are taking on the effects of drowning! Do you really want that for your beloved hammy?
- Can Cause Hypothermia: If your pet hamster is not familiar with swimming and is forced to do it , that could lead to it staying in the water for too long. This can cause a drop in body temperature, which can be extremely dangerous.
Hypothermia is when the internal body temperature drops below safe limits–something very serious that can even result in death! Do not allow this to happen!!!
Likewise, if your hamster does get out of the tub but still isn’t dry , this could also lead to hypothermia since their bodies will remain wet, which has an adverse effect on thermoregulation!
- Can Cause Extreme Stress And Anxiety : This can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, which is very unhealthy for your hamsters. Do not force them into water, otherwise their bodies could react in a bad way–such as by releasing too much adrenaline!
Extremely high levels of adrenaline are released when an animal or human experiences shock or fear-which means that if they’re experiencing the same thing during “swimming lessons” then its going to be extremely stressful for them! Do not allow this to happen!!!
It may seem like forced exposure to water would make them “cute” or fun to look at on camera, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth! Attempting these things could actually end up killing your pet. Do not attempt anything like this because you will be putting your hamster through unnecessary stress and injury.
What To Do If My Hamster Accidentally Fell Into A Water Body?
If your pet happens to accidentally fall into a body of water, lift it out immediately! Do NOT try to grab it suddenly without thinking, because it may mistake your actions as an attack and run away. Instead, sneak up on it slowly so that it doesn’t sense danger.
Do not let it stay there in the water for too long, otherwise it is going to begin inhaling water or possibly even drown in the process.
As soon as you’ve lifted it out , make sure it is completely dry-including its fur and skin, because this could also lead to hypothermia if left wet for too long.
Make sure that your pet hamster is kept warm afterwards by putting it inside an enclosed hooded sleep sack made of fleece so that it is soft on its body . This will help keep it safe while still allowing air circulation–which is important since hamsters don’t like being wrapped up tightly!
Wrapping Up
Hamsters are small rodents who spend a lot of time underground and in dry areas, and are not really good swimmers. They don’t enjoy swimming that much, either.
In fact, they find it stressful and will try to get out of the water as soon as possible if you put them there without giving them any choice in the matter. So please be careful – never force your hamster to swim!
Hamsters do not enjoy water. When they are forced to swim, there are a lot of unwanted side effects that can affect their health in the long term. They will struggle if forced into water as this may result in unnecessary stress, which could lead to other health problems such as respiratory infections or heart disease.
If your hamster is trying to avoid getting wet at all costs, never force them into deep waters for any reason. Sand baths are an excellent substitute when you want your pet to stay clean and happy!
Can Hamsters Eat Brussels Sprouts? – Pet Nutrition Planet
XoXo
Genie
Related Questions
Cam Hamster Swim In A Bowl?
Yes, hamsters can swim in a shallow bowl of water, but it is definitely not a good idea! Hamsters are natural burrowing animals and basically feel most comfortable when underground. They don’t like swimming because it makes them uncomfortable, so please avoid putting them into bodies of water unless you know what you’re doing . This applies for bowls you might want to use at home.
If a small amount of water gets on their body while they are cleaning themselves, then that’s fine – but if the majority of their fur becomes wet , this may lead to respiratory infections due to the fact that their breathing system works differently from ours!
How Long Can Hamsters Swim ?
Hamsters can swim for a few minutes, but they don’t enjoy it. Do not attempt to put your hamster in water because this will cause stress and anxiety which could lead to other long-term health issues such as heart disease or respiratory infections . In fact, you should never force your pet into entering any body of water without carefully considering the consequences first!
When hamsters are forced to swim, they may struggle by trying to escape quickly. This is dangerous behaviour since it puts them at risk of drowning if their head goes under the surface while attempting an escape route. Do not allow this to happen!!!