Worried about my new Roborovski - Page 2

Stardust79 · 08-07-2017, 09:43 AM

So last night I removed her house to check on her. She was terrified. She darted behind her wheel, I still couldn't see her. So I lifted the wooden wheel and she stayed on the base of the wheel. Got her off and she darted behind everything, so I removed everything so I could actually get a good look at her. This ended up in a 45 minute stand off. Her eyes were clear and bright, so I put everything back. She hasn't eaten anything the past 36 hours. So I phoned the pet store that I got her from, they said that this is not normal and I need to bring her back to see their vet. Surely a 7 mile car journey is not proactive and would stress her even more. They are very firm that she needs to be seen by their vet. I don't know what to do? Something isn't right with her, but I am not sure it's physical. Am worried now.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-07-2017, 01:40 PM

So sorry that you are going thru this but you will come out on the other side. Hugs XX

cypher · 08-07-2017, 11:06 PM

I'm really sorry you're having such a hard time, it's very difficult to tell from reading posts whether a ham might be ill or not sometimes, if she is just still very nervous then just checking on her will have unsettled her a fair bit although I understand that you needed to do it, it's a tough decision to have to make but her reclusiveness & fear does seem a bit extreme & could be a sign that something is wrong.

Stardust79 · 08-11-2017, 05:18 PM

UPDATE: Cookie is still not coming out, but I have spotted her up when I have gone to bed. She looks perfectly healthy, eyes are bright and clear, ears are clear, he coat is beautiful (I have seen her cleaning herself. She is just very very nervous. It is very extreme though. But from what I can tell, she looks fine in appearance. I made slight progress the past 2 nights. She did stick her nose out of her house and take a treat from me. She is slightly more curious now, instead of being 100% darting away, she is sticking her head out curiously. But no, she will not come out. I got her up last night and she darted to the corner of the cage and just froze for 10 minutes. So I turned the light off and walked away. I do not think she is sick. I hear her drinking when I have gone to bed, and she is taking her treats out of her bowl and eating small amounts of food. We are now at 11 days now since I got her. I am going to start gently doing short taming in her cage in a few days. Oh and I caught her running on her wheel a few times after going to bed, I stuck my head in and saw her wheel spinning in the dark. She is just afraid of me at the moment.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-11-2017, 05:47 PM

I'm glad she's healthy. I would recommend leaving her alone for another week or two. There is no hurry to tame her. After the 45 min standoff, she's probably leary of you. I'm glad she's curious but she will be in a better frame of mind respecting her space. Any more intrusion might really damage your relationship. I don't know how you plan to tame her but just having her take treats from you is a big step. If she's taking seeds from you now, just continue that for as long as it takes before taking the next step which would be putting food on your hand & she if she will sit in your hand. You have to give her plenty of time to trust you.

Only one of my robos sit in my hand, the other one runs across it. She's very fond of my hand only if I have treats in it.

I scared my Chinese by putting her in the playpen too early. I am also trying to gain her trust back & it's been a couple of months now. She is still very timid. She takes treats from me but she's not very brave yet. I'm not in any rush, just want her to be happy

cypher · 08-11-2017, 10:06 PM

That's good that she's taken a treat from you, 11 days still isn't that long so she probably is still very nervous, hopefully if you just keep encouraging her gently & go slow she will gain confidence with time.

flowerfairy · 08-12-2017, 04:08 AM

My last two roborovskis (from a breeder) were always very nervous and would hide from my hand. They gradually got used to me and would stay out and about with me near their cage but they never took treats from me and were always watch dont touch pets.

My new three (from gumtree) are fearless and will come out and about when my hand is in the cage. One of them does give teeny bites so I am a bit wary.

Hopefully your little girl will get more confident in time.