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Old 11-24-2018, 07:24 AM   #1
spacebyte
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Default Roborovski weights.

Hi everyone, have been busy with my new job so I haven’t really posted here in a while. Need some help with some conflicting info I have been given.

One of my robos, Crumble, is a bigger robo. She is 37g. The other Ruby is 19g, wee. They don’t live together, there’s no food bullying, and they are fed th same. Crumble eats everything she’s given, ruby leaves a lot left over. I have not been keeping track of their weights consistently as they are hard to handle/I was out of the country but this isn’t a sudden change in either of them.

I have been asking around on Facebook about Crumble losing some weight. I had read online that a robos usual weight is 20-30g. Instead I am being told that Ruby is massively underweight and Crumble is a totally normal weight.

I don’t think either of them are at their ideal, but I’d like to know what the ideal actually is? Is Ruby hugely underweight? What food can I give her to make her eat more/gain weight? She does eat, her teeth are okay and she chews on things, she just doesn’t seem as interested as Crumble. Are there “runt” hamsters?

Should I limit Crumbles food more? They were fed by my boyfriend for a month which had meant more food than usual, but I’m home now and feed less often, and have stopped giving crumble treats.

Please help I have no idea how I’ve ended up with two who weigh so different!
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Old 11-24-2018, 08:05 AM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Roborovski weights.

You can't really say if a hamster is over/under weight just by how many grams they weigh, some hams are just larger or smaller than others but as long as their bodies are in proportion then there isn't really an issue. I would probably try and have a look at her teeth too just to make sure there's nothing going on there. If you put her in a clear based container and hold a treat above her nose you can usually have a quick look at the teeth.

What are you feeding them? They shouldn't leave their food, it's important they eat all/close to all of it. Only fill up the bowl when enough of it has gone or it'll just encourage picky eating. You could try changing the food as not all hams will take to the same one. Some people also add in pellets to ensure they're getting all the nutrients.
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Old 11-24-2018, 08:06 AM   #3
cypher
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Default Re: Roborovski weights.

Hamster weight varies a fair bit with all species so there isn't really an ideal weight, as well as weight you need to consider if they look healthy, nice shiny coat etc, & if they are active.
Each ham is an individual so they will vary & levels of activity will vary, activity can have more impact on weight than diet sometimes so if you have one ham who loves the wheel & one who prefers to just laze about a bit more then the same diet will result in different weights.
I wouldn't cut back on food, if you think a ham is getting a bit overweight which they don't often do tbh it's better to encourage activity rather than cut back on food, although it's fine to cut back on treats or extras that they don't need.
Which mix are you using?
If you think Ruby may be a little underweight you could just try offering a few extras along with her main food, things like sunflower, pumpkin or hemp seeds, small pieces of nut, mealworms or a little plain chicken would help.
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Old 11-24-2018, 09:01 AM   #4
spacebyte
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Default Re: Roborovski weights.

I realise they are all different, wish I could measure them in length so we had a proportion! Crumble has always been the larger sister. I just didn’t think she could be nearly double and still be okay! I gave her a once over this morning as someone on Facebook mentioned looking for lumps and there’s none, but she is a bit “chubby”. She has a wee round belly. Still very active using both her flying saucer and wheel every day, but we are cutting out treats for her.

As for Ruby that’s a bit more of a worry. She is active too, she’s running and climbing and playing, but just doesn’t seem to want to finish her food. I know I should leave it to try and stop her fussy eating but I also feel bad that I’m not refilling her bowl they are both on the burgess dwarf hamster, but we have been slowly switching to bunny dream expert (https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...er/food/620085) as the burgess is discontinued. The nutrients aren’t quite as good but we have but allergies in this house so are a wee bit limited. Was also considering adding some science selective but they are quite big.

We give them fresh food but ruby tends to not eat t all, while crumble will gobble it. Put in treats like millet sprays and crumble will devour hers while Ruby will have a nibble and make it last. They both chew their whimzees a lot so I think their teeth are okay, but I will give ruby a once over just now (she’s a lot speedier and less tame than crumble so wish me luck!) I’ve also bought some baby food for her to try
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Old 11-24-2018, 09:12 AM   #5
spacebyte
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Default Re: Roborovski weights.

https://i.imgur.com/xzr7GN8.jpg Here’s ruby. Looking mad that I woke her. Much more interested in being out of the tub than getting a treat
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Old 11-24-2018, 09:16 AM   #6
spacebyte
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Default Re: Roborovski weights.

Can’t see her teeth, won’t eat a snack, she won’t even bite me. How long do I keep trying?
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Old 11-24-2018, 09:22 AM   #7
spacebyte
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Default Re: Roborovski weights.

Teeth have been seen! They look fine! Tongue has also been seen think she likes the baby foood
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Old 11-24-2018, 11:03 AM   #8
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Roborovski weights.

Ruby looks fine proportion wise.
How much and how often are you feeding her? Either feed a little more every other day or a bit less every day. I know it's tempting to top their bowls up, I have the same issue with my robo. All gets pouched within seconds. Hams do tend to leave some of the Burgess but the Bunny is an improvement. Just supplement with some shrimp/mealworms/occasional cricket.
Some robos just aren't that into food really, although I'm sure it's a worry when Crumble is a greedy little thing in comparison. 37g is quite normal so no need to worry there.
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