Roborovski Breeding Dilemma, How Many To Get?

SnuggleHam · 09-06-2005, 09:11 AM

Roborovski Breeding Dilemma, How Many To Get?

Some of you know that I have been thinking about breeding Roborovski’s for some time now. Ever since I found and bought my first two and one of them passed away. Since then I have been in search for a local breeder so that I could purchase a female for my current male. But when it comes down to is there really isn’t anyone in my area! The only people I know of is one person in New Hampshire and one in New York. Both places are quite a distance to drive.

However I am taking a trip back to Canada this October 1st and 2nd and have found a breeder in Ontrario that is on the way to my destination. She has both males and female robosorvski available. My problem is trying to figure out how many I should get.

I already know that I only want to start out with just one breeding pair, because the last thing I want is to become overwhelmed with to many pups. So obviously I need at lest one female. Problem is that this breeder in Canada is about nine hours away from me, and the breeders I know of in NH and NY don’t have any litters yet and I doubt will have any until next spring as they are seasonal breeders. So if I bought just one female from this person in Canada and something happened to one of my roborivskis then id be again left in the same predicament with no close breeders, and the ones I do know of with no pups in site for a few months or more.

So I’m thinking, I may as well get a few more from this breeder incase something were to happen by the start of the next breeding season in spring.

My first thought was to get a male and female unrelated to house together in the same enclosure but split caged so they couldn’t breed and also get another female for my current male to breed. But if I did this and waited a whole season to use any of the other robos they would be past their breeding prime anyway.

So then I thought, what if I get three females and house two of them together as cage mates and place the third female with my male. So if something happened to a female by the first breeding season I’d have two more female robos as back up. But then what happens if something happened with my male? Then id just have females.

If this were the UK things would be easier. I could get one breeding a pair and if I ever needed more hamsters I could easily find a breeder. But that’s not how things are in the US and Id like to take advantage of this situation meeting this person in Ontario but I’m not quite sure what would be the best course of action.

So for any experienced robos people out there id like your opinion. I need to let the breeder know how many to reserve soon so that I can have everything all set for my trip to Canada.

Is it possible to house a male and female in the same cage but split so they could have the company of one another but not mate with each other and be just as happy? Of course each would be provided with all the necessary cage enrichment items, I plan to treat these animals as pets, not just breeders.

I asked the breeder this same question and she doesn’t seem to recommend this.

flogging_molly · 09-09-2005, 03:44 AM

Bear in mind I'm not too familiar with Robos, but I would imagine two breeding pairs of non related hamsters would be sufficient, breeding males and females from the 2 litters so that inbreeding is avoided.

SnuggleHam · 09-09-2005, 04:04 AM

I don't want two breeding pairs, just one. There wont be inbreeding because I will have a female from a different place. I'm not sure what to do, I think I may just come home with just one female and hope that nothing happens to either one.

**babyboos** · 09-09-2005, 07:34 AM

I would go with two two female from seperate lines, that way you maximise your chances of being able to find a harmonious pairing, and can use the other to breed out with when you get your first litter. Plus hopefully will happliy live together until you decide when you want to start the introduction to your male. It does however mean one girl will be living alone until the first litter comes along so you may want to consider three females. Even better chance of finding one who is happy to go with your existing male...

SnuggleHam · 09-09-2005, 07:54 AM

Thanks Babyboos, I did email the person and told them I wanted three females, I think that's my best bet

**babyboos** · 09-10-2005, 08:29 AM

I hope they can do this Candace - let us know how you get on!

SnuggleHam · 09-21-2005, 06:20 AM

Well.... I think I have decided not to get any Roborovski. I would really love to breed them, but I have been thinking long and hard about this, trying to figure out what would be the best course of action concerning how many I should bring home. But really I think it would be best just to not get any.

I mean, I already have eight gerbils for crying out loud! I can house them fine and they have plenty to do, then I also have Gerald, and my lovebird and my one Roborovski. I know that Robos are better off in pairs, but my little Robo seems as happy as can be in his large 29 gallon tank full of toys and goodies.

Since I live in an apartment I do have limited room. My whole art corner is already used for the gerbils and Gerald’s bin. I’m sure I could make room for three more Robos, but as far as breeding, I know that Roborovki aren’t very easy to sex and I worry that my untrained eye will result in inbreeding by mistake and then more robos then I could handle!

If I had more room I would go for it, as then I could make room for as many bins as I needed. But I think it would be best to concentrate on my eight gerbils and other pets as well. I could easily go overboard and hoard lol, but since I've mixed feelings about getting the Robos that to me is a sign that something isn't quite right.

I would love to breed hamsters some day though! It's just I need more room so I could feel good with keeping any pups I couldn’t rehome. I don’t feel good with bringing any animals to a pet store, no matter how educated they seem, I know how they are being treated and handled when they are with me.

One day though! One day I will have my own hamstery! But for now I'll just stick with my current menagerie!

**babyboos** · 09-21-2005, 06:48 AM

If you have any doubts at all Candace you are best listening to them. I am sure one day you and your husband will have a lovely big house and you can indulge your fantasy of having a hamstery.

SnuggleHam · 09-21-2005, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyboos

If you have any doubts at all Candace you are best listening to them. I am sure one day you and your husband will have a lovely big house and you can indulge your fantasy of having a hamstery.

Ya, it's not really doubts... it’s more... “realistic thinking”. It’s really about the space issue more than anything. I’m really creative at squeezing in room for new pets and things when I want to, but I think where I am at now in the pet department I should chill out from more "pet projects" Even though I have no experience in breeding hamsters I do know what it requires, so jumping into it isn’t a issue, because you learn the best from experience. But it's just that there isn't enough space. I don’t want to over crowd the home with pets, it's not just my space it's hubbies too.

Estelle · 12-06-2005, 03:15 PM

I just wanted to add, about Roborovski's being seasonal breeders, my female gave birth last week in November which is the begining of winter in the UK.