Aw I think my sperated Robo's are unhappy : (

[Pompompoms]

My little Robo's Jam and The Cloud were seperated a week ago due to intense fighting (see other posts) and both seem so much more subdued now.

The Cloud is slightly better, he'll pop out a little bit and go on his wheel, mooch around then go back in again, but he seems very scared of me now when he wasn't all before. he also just sits for ages staring into space.

Jam is worse, he hardly ever comes out, when he does, he gathers up as much food as he can, then I hear him eating it in his nest. I hear him wheeling very late at night so he is having some fun, but he seems to be a total recluse. If he's out and he spots me, he shoots back in again. He used to be running about all evening too and happy to be picked up and handled. He just seems so sad and frightened poor little thing

They both used to wake up at about eight half eight and be so active all evening while we were there with no problems, they'd run all over my hand in the cage, and never fly off to the covered area for safety.

Now they are coming out later and later, I think about half one in the morning so I don't really see them now. Tricky to help them build their confidence again when we're up at completely different times.

They both have a Rody cage with a wheel, a log with lots of holes in it, a seesaw, dangly chew toys and a toliet roll so I'm sure they're not bored. Very sad I think and lonely, they're only 11 weeks this week. I can't risk putting them together at the moment though as jam was just going to end up dead.

Ahhhhhh my poor little ones, anyone have any advice?

[Tammy22]

Hi again

i am sory to hear about your robos, but this is just normal really - they were used to having another robo with them and they are on their own, so it is just normal that it is going to take them a while to get used to being on their own and testing new things out on their own, investingating a noise on their own etc. After all, they are social creatures and seem to rely on each other a lot - evening if they are not getting on too well!

I do not know what you have decided to do - either keept them separate or reintroduce them at a later date, but either way, you are going to have to get them to trust again - the only way to do this is to handle them and get them used to you again, and, as you say, that is not easy if they are not awake when you are awake.

You will have to wake them up and get them out - you have probably noticed that robos always seem to sleep with one eye open, so they never stay asleep once they hear you anyway - so they are probably already awake once you walk into the room.

Once you open the cage door the hamster will probably wake up, so just try moving the bedding apart if he doesnt come out - that will soon make him shoot out - you can then catch him and hold him for as long as you have the time really - the more you handle him, the tamer he will become - you will need to do this with both of them separately.

Robos arent really the type of hamster to be tempted with food, but you can try placing a piece of chicken or pasta, or egg on your hand when you have them out and see if they will nibble on it - if you are gentle with them and strat to make them accociate your hands with pleasure of yummy food, they will soon enjoy coming out

If you wake them up in the morning when you get up and give them a treat they will son wake up and expect you to give that treat, so they will be waiting for you each morning - you could do the same in the evening - always make sure it is the same time each day

Little things like this can really help in a big way

Good Luck,

Tammy x

[Pompompoms]

Oh thank you Tammy, you are fast becoming my Robo Guru!

I am planning to reintroduce them again when all injuries are healed and when what I'm pretty sure is puberty is over. Jam is nearly healed now and looking great again so in that respect things are good.

I had always left them alone when they sleep thinking that they don't like to be woken up, but I'll do their food in the morning and get them out, then wake them up again in the evening.

I can completely understand why they are feeling unsettled, they are just babies still really and have had so much change in the few weeks they've been with me because of the fighting. Seemingly they are obsessed with meal worms, so I think that'll be a good way to entice them out! They do normally peak out if I put my hands in the cage, it's just getting them out from under the covered bit.

A couple of nights ago we did manage to get them both out (seperately!) and eating in my hands which was lovely, last night they weren't having any of it, but I didn't try waking them up either.

I will report back on how we get on tonight and tomorrow morning!

Thanks again xx

[Pompompoms]

Progress!

The Cloud is doing very well, he is happy to be out and about most of the time now when people are in the room, and is coming out twice a day to be handled without too many problems. Yesterday he happily sat and was stroked for about half an hour. He's wheeling like a lunatic, he doesn't seem to get the whole slow the wheel down part, he just stops at top speed, so gets thrown round about four times then flung out into the cage. Most of the time he jumps straight in and does it again, occasionally he sits looking a bit stunned and confused for a while. It does make me laugh, but to mimimise the risks I have removed all objects from his landing area and made and extra thick layer of wood shavings as a safety mat lol!

Jam is still very shy, but much better too, he is coming out from his nest a little bit more, still very tentative, but he was sniffing and walking over my hand yesterday. I do have to pretty much take the whole cage apart sometimes to get him out, but he's hopping onto my hands well, and yesterday evening for the first time ever he sat for ages and was stroked!!!! Awwwww I was so pleased.

I give them a meal worm each before getting them out, then another one when I put them back in. Ok so it's totaly bribery to like me, but hey it seems to be working!

[Tammy22]

Awww, they sound great!! i am so glad everything seems to be going well with them

Keep us posted

Tammy x

[souffle]

That is fab news. They sound to be coming on well. Jam will soon gain his confidence when he realises he is safe now and they seem to be adapting well to living alone. Well done you for the taming too

[Toria]

I had a similar problem.. so after M-O had healed up i re-introduced them and they have been getting along amazingly, better than before..
Do you think you would re-introduce them?