Average life expectancy : 2-3 years

Water intake : 20-30ml per day

Food intake : 10-15g per day

Body weight (males) : 85-140g

Body weight (females) 95-120g

Body temperature (rectal) : 36.2

Heart rate : Range 280-412 beats per minute

Respiratory rate : Range 33-127 (average 74) per minute

Sexual maturity (males ) : reached at 6-8 weeks.

Sexual maturity (females) : reached at 4 weeks

Oestrus cycle : lasts 4 days. Stops during hibernation

Ovulation : occurs on first day of oestrus cycle - 1-2 hours after nightfall.

Implantation : occurs on 6^th day after mating

Gestation period : 15-21 days (Chinese hamster the longest)

Average litter size : 4-12. Maximum recorded 26.

Young at birth : Weight 2-5g.Naked, eyes closed until 5 days. Suckle milk for 10 days.

Weaning : 21 days of age

Reproductive lifespan : average 15 months

Total blood volume : 70-75 ml/kg body weight

Red cell count : 7.5 x 10¹²/L

Haemoglobin : 16.8 g/dl

White cell count : 7.62 x 10⁹/L

Neutrophils : 29.9%

Lymphocytes : 73.5%