Why do rodents like hamsters and mice only live for 2 to 3 years?
Because they are a prey species, rodents natual instincts are to breed and eat, that’s basic survival, large litters, short life span. Wild hamsters don’t live as long as captive ones, so be happy about that atleast ! You also have to remember before they came to the public they were a rodent scientests tested and studied, and were found in 1930, they haven’t been pets for quite that long, and not much is known about wild hamsters. but with any and all rodent it means breed breed breed in the short time they do have, to keep the species alive, and anything that breeds so much in such a short amount of time (even if you take the predator factor out) will die within a 6 month to year span.
