• Question from:Joshua

I am not sure if you missed my snails question in the other thread, but if you can answer it then thank you.

I wanted to know why hamsters don't have eyelashes - this seems strange because they live in the desert, mine even tries to do sandbaths like chinchillas.

But my vet didn't know why, and he told me I mustn't let my hamster take sandbaths because he has no eyelashes like chinchillas do and so he will damage his eyes.

  • University of Bristol
  • Posts: 351

I haven't seen a hamster in ages, and never had one as a pet like you, but are you sure they don't have eyelashes!! Maybe very fine, dispersed ones? Also, next time I see a mouse I will check, because I'm fairly sure they have eyelashes as well. Or maybe it depends on the definition of 'eyelashes'!

Last edited by Steve Lolait (10th Sep 2012 15:42:11)

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  • University of Aberdeen
  • Posts: 21

Hi Joshua,

What kind of hamster do you have? I was intrigued by your question because I also have hamsters and gerbils, so I've done a quick check: my rodents definitely have eyelashes!

For white or light-coloured animals the eyelashes are the same colour so are difficult to see, and are probably easiest to see on agouti roborovski hamsters, where they are quite well defined.