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Old 06-21-2012, 02:36 PM   #1
LokiWolf
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Default Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

I'm writing a book about Roborovskis in the wild, but I've become stuck with how they would act as a colony as I only have two. Watching my two has been very helpful, but I need to know how they work as a group. I'd love to get a colony of my own, but I live with my parents and I've reached the "hamster limit" of two set by them. I know I could make this up as it is a fictional book, but I'd like to base off fact if I can.

So, here I am asking if anyone with a colony of Roborovskis can describe how they behave as a group: Do you notice any kind of structure? Is there a of some kind hierarchy that you notice?

Any information will be helpful.
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Old 07-03-2012, 04:15 PM   #2
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

Hiya,

I had a colony of males, seven in total. Dasher who at the time was around a year was at the top as the oldest and kept everything in order, he would chase off the older youngsters if they were being too rough with the babies, never aggressively, but they all knew he was in charge, and it worked well in that respect. Billy who was the next youngest at five months, was next in line, then really the four four month old boys, then the babies. The babies I noticed did have a lot more lenience shown toward them in general so age was taken into account. Dasher would also have them sleeping closest to him so they felt safe.

Here's a little vid

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Old 07-03-2012, 04:20 PM   #3
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

Thank you so much for sharing. Information such as this is useful to me; their behavior is just how I thought it would be.
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Old 07-03-2012, 04:48 PM   #4
Lougarry
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

You might enjoy this too:
YouTube - Roborovski hamsters - BBC 'Wild China'
Apparently it was filmed in a studio not in the wild, but the hamsters were kept there for some time so the behaviour was as natural as possible.
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Old 07-03-2012, 06:26 PM   #5
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

Yes, that was one of the first things I've watched when I started researching for this book idea.
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Old 07-04-2012, 02:19 AM   #6
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

Poms, that video is so adorable! <3 Makes me feel sorry for Darla being a loner Robo though
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Old 07-05-2012, 04:25 PM   #7
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

It was bedlam in there most days, but in a good way. I think Dasher enjoys his peace now to be honest! That vid was particularly mas as they'd just had a clean out and I'd only put one of their sand pits back in which seemingly EVERYONE had to go in!
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Old 10-28-2014, 12:21 AM   #8
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

You can't write a book about their behavior in the wild if you're studying them in captivity. You have to go to Mongolia, China, and other places to study them in the wild. For example, a high percentage of groups in captivity seem to need separation due to fighting once they reach 2 to 4 months of age while this is not true in the wild (reasons unknown). But i'm searching for threads that will help me understand them in captivity. I think focusing your book on that would be really useful to pet owners. What I'm trying to find information on Is how to read their body language. For instance, I've noticed that they almost always do a quick little "greet" whenever they pass by each other by sniffing with their nose. So now whenever I put my hand in their enclosure, I put a finger up to their nose first before anything else and have noticed that there are less likely to be startled or runaway. I guess I'm looking for something like knowing that a dog wagging its tail means it's happy or a dog yawn means it's annoyed, but in robo terms. Anyone else notice body language meanings or Robo behavior.
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Old 10-28-2014, 10:17 PM   #9
LokiWolf
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Default Re: Roborovski Colony Behavior Needed

Kani, you assumed that I was asking info for writing a pet guide or something. I was asking info because I have been writing a fiction book and I wanted to know real colony behavior to make it seem realistic.

Also, this is an old thread, over 2 years old.
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