4 Roborovski's together???

[Crazy fish]

Hello all I'm planning on purchasing 4 Roborovski's and adding them to a karat 100 (100x50x60) iv just purchased but I'm reading conflicting information as some people say they love groups but others say they don't like been in pairs and live happily by there selves??
I have 3 girls and they all want one each for xmas so I though I'd purchase 4 Roborovski's so the kids have 1 each and me and the missus can share one so we could have a nice little unit of 4 girls as I don't fancy little ones appearing if a males in there.
Am I doing the right thing?
What's the best advice I need to achieve this?
Iv been told I need 1 of everything for each Robo! Is this the case?
All advice welcome.

Ben.

[Wisper]

Basically it can be hit and miss, some Robos will live together all their lives other will fall out and need to be separated. Most on this forum would advice having extra cages on stand by in case you need to separate them off.

Once you separate them they can't go back to living together. You could quite easily end up with 4 hamsters in 4 separate cages. Robos do live fine alone however so they won't mind.

[souffle]

Tammy has some great robo info here http://www.oakfarmrabbitsandrodents....robo/main.html
Not sure if she is breeding just now as she has a young family though.

[DrKMcK]

Hello Crazy fish, and welcome to Hamster Central.
I suggest you get the books listed below. The first one is specific to dwarf hamsters but the other one is sort of a hamster bible. Also, check out the Navigation panel on the top left of your screen for loads of information on hamsters in the forum section.
In addition,check out the Erin's Hamsters site. She is amazing with all kinds of tutorial videos showing how to tame hamsters, house them, do health checks, and a host of other things that hamster owners could possibly ask about.

As for the 4 hammies together, well, I've had a pair that did well, but the anxiety of watching out for trouble between them has made me decide on singletons from now on. If it isn't caught in time, and bullying or a fight breaks out, a hamster can be killed or hurt very badly. I know there are people who have had groups and things worked out, but that is because they watched very closely and made sure anything that could start territorial battles was removed from, or never put in, their home.

Yes, you do need to have a wheel for each hammy. You need to scatter feed and not use a bowl for food. There should be enough hidey houses so they can get away from each other of they want to. Those houses should have 2 entrances so a hamster doesn't get trapped by another one. No dwarf hammy habitat that houses 2 hamsters or more should ever have levels in their home. That will often lead to one hamster claiming a shelf and fighting the other(s) for it.

I know this is a lot of info, and probably not what you wanted to hear. But to keep them all safe, these things are necessary. If you have the room, the very best thing is for them all to live separately. You can try the group together, but you must have a plan to get them separated quickly if it goes badly.

I hope all goes well for you and the furries. Please let us know how they do.

[Crazy fish]

Thank you for this it's very helpful iv been reading like mad and getting loads of conflicting advice.

If the Robo is no good in a 4 some is there a better option for us like another breed or are they all the same?

Really want at least 3 hammys as I want the kids to have one each.

[DrKMcK]

Hi again. Actually, all the dwarf hamsters are the only ones who can live together. It's just that they can fall out at any point in time. There are hammies who were together since birth and only started fighting a year later.
The big hammies, the Syrians, can never, ever live together. These hammies only meet for breeding and then go their separate ways afterwards. I have found them to be easier for young hands as the dwarf hammies are usually quicker and hard for little ones to hold onto. Depending on how old your children are, as they learn to care for their little fluffs, you will be the one who will make sure the hammies are getting what they need.
Since you went looking for info on this site before getting a hamster, I have no doubt these hamsters will have a great home. Research before getting a hammy, or any pet, is always the way to go.

Since hamsters tend to be up more often at night and early morning, it wouldn't surprise me if you get to see them more than the girls do.

Be aware that people in pet shops often don't really know what they are talking about. They'll tell you that hamsters have to live in pairs. They'll try to sell you these small cages and fluffy bedding that can kill a hammy. Their job is to sell product. We see it all the time here on HC. And quite a few don't know how to sex a hamster.

If you buy a Syrian for the girls, they are a lot easier to sex as the males have an obvious bulge (testicles). It isn't as easy to do with the little guys. Syrians can be sold under all kinds of names...Black Bears, Fancy Bears, Mandarins, Dalmation, etc. But they are all Syrians, just different colors and/or patterns.

As I said before, you can try having the 3 dwarf hams together, but have stand by cages ready if they fight or bully another ham. Hope this helps.

[Crazy fish]

Thank you very much, yes iv been reading non stop for the last few days on all the extra bits and pieces that are needed for a healthy life for the hammys but we have experience with all sorts of pets so I think between me and the missus we should be able to give the 3 little fellas a great home. Iv got my fingers crossed that it will all be ok as I really want to see them all together as I think it's a little more natural as they live on groups in the wild.
Is 3 wheels, 3 waters, 3 foods, 3 houses really necessary? I was going to construct my housing like the picture and have it on 3 levels or is this a massive NO NO? I have watched a few videos and seen a few photos where they are on 2 or 3 levels and they seem to be acting fine! Should I set up the way I'm planning and then adjust if it needs it when I get going or is there a set way that is proven to get good results?
Sorry for the mass of questions

[DrKMcK]

Not a problem with asking questions. 3 waters and 3 food bowls aren't necessary in one cage. I usually put 2 water bottles in a cage, even if there is only one hamster. This is so if one bottle stops working, the hamster can still get water. Bottles should be checked every other day to make sure they are working. Just tapping on the spout until you see the bubbles is fine. I had a gerbil die once because of a bottle that stopped working.

Food dishes for multiple hammies is not a good idea. It creates a territorial problem where one will chase the other(s) away and not allow them to eat. Scatter feeding is best for them. It is also good because it makes them hunt for food, which is actually more normal behavior.

Shelves for multiples is absolutely a no-no. One of the issues with trying out the shelves and thinking that you can just remove them if it becomes a problem is that the hammies have been stressed and have begun to act out with each other. They don't like change, so even taking the shelves away may just increase the acting out. Start with one level only and see how they do together. If they do well, don't change the general layout. You can change toys and hidey's, but don't do it too often.


Shelves look great and people enjoy making them. But they are really best with single hamsters, regardless of dwarf or Syrian hamsters.

Oops! My show is coming on TV. I'll be back a little later.

[slatted]

Hello Crazy Fish

I can understand the appeal of housing hammies together and I have heard of some who manage to even have small colonies of Robos but it is tricky with risks of fall outs over territories/power etc and of course incorrect sexing.

Some people have managed without the "one of everything per hamster" rule whilst others found it solved issues that were developing and have used it as a rule since. I, personally, do not use levels and do provide multiple wheels and a flying saucer if it looks like they are not good at sharing.

I have had couples that started well and then just turned overnight but I also have a pair of Robo sisters that are together at the moment and have been for quite a while and still cuddle up together every night..but I still keep an ear open for squabbles and fights.

I would also say that Robos are not that easy to handle unless really tame, and even then they can have their moments! I compare them to trying to handle furry soap! lol

I find it is a joy to own hamsters and I hope you find what works for you and your family.

[Piebald]

Honestly if your first consideration is having a group have you considered pet rats? They love to live in a group (introduced properly), are easier to handle and more affectionate than Robos. They are great pets and sound to me much more what you are looking for. Why did you settle on Robos?