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Old 12-20-2018, 10:55 AM   #1
Courtflash
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Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: London
Posts: 22
Default Robo taming difficulty

Hi there, this is my first post but I'm not new to hamsters (or robos for that matter). I wish I had joined this site earlier though because my hams are pet shop bought, rather than rescues or from breeders.

Regardless, I have five robos. A female named Minerva, who has always lived alone, and a group of four boys who are seperated. Trouble (the instigator of the separation, lol), Nibbles, Spooks and Zoomy.

I've had a pair of robos before, around four years ago, but... I have no recollection of how I tamed them! It just... happened? They were also pet shop boys, but we got along so well, so quickly. Their lives were unfortunately filled with disease and many vet visits, so that's what I can remember when I think of them (and of course how lovely they were ).

I'm going about the "normal" taming method, i.e. giving treats and slowly moving forward. Despite the implications of his name, Trouble is the closest to being tamed. He's the least skittish and does very well with taking treats. Zoomy and Nibbles are on the same wavelength. Most days they take treats, but they still get quite startled by my appearance or when I change their water. Spooks has been the most difficult with taming. This was most likely because Trouble bit him (which is why I separated them), and I then had to get up close and personal to make sure he was OK. After moving him to his new cage, he rarely came out and refused to take food from my hand. Sometimes, he wouldn't take treats even if I left it there in the cage for him. He's made a lot of progress recently (I removed the tunnels from his cage that lead to under his substrate), but I don't want to push him any more, so I'll give him a few more weeks.

The main issue is Minerva. We keep going back and forth and I really don't understand why. She went from slowly getting the courage to pop her head out of her house, to not coming out at all no matter what time it is (i.e. if I stay up until 1am, she won't come out whatsoever but all the boys will be up by then regardless of me still being around).

I'm not sure what to do in general. I want to move forward, but I don't know how. Of course I know that some hamsters will never be OK with being handled, but at the very least, I don't want them to be afraid of me.

Minerva was purchased October 7th at 9 weeks. The boys were purchased October 25th at 10 weeks. Their cages are all in the living room and I'm pretty much always there, playing video games and going about my day. I'd appreciate any advice I could get. Also, I don't have a bathtub, in case you wanted to suggest that, lol. Thank you and sorry this was so long.


TL;DR
I have had robos before, but I don't remember how I tamed my past robos and I'm struggling with taming my present robos. Advice would be deeply appreciated.
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Old 10-31-2019, 05:28 AM   #2
Ithuviel
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Location: Romania
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Default Re: Robo taming difficulty

How was all this resolved? i see you wrote one year ago. I also have a robo but i'm a new hamster owner so i'm looking for any answers possible.
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Old 11-01-2019, 06:30 AM   #3
Courtflash
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Default Re: Robo taming difficulty

Do you know about taming at all? There isn't really a different method when it comes to robos. They tend to be more skittish and seem to be less likely to enjoy handling compared to other species, but that doesn't mean they can't be tamed. Consistency and patience is key really. It took a while, but they're all tame now. 4/5 aren't really a fan of being touched though lol. They're just not scared of me anymore (minus Spooks who is afraid of his own shadow) and greet me when they're awake and hear my voice. They've come associate my presence with treats lol.
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Old 11-04-2019, 06:34 AM   #4
Ithuviel
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Default Re: Robo taming difficulty

That is so nice. I know the basics: keep hand around him, offer treats, let him climb on if he wants etc. I also tried the playpen....but that just freaked out my hamster.
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Old 04-14-2020, 02:20 PM   #5
graveyardalien
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Default Re: Robo taming difficulty

I'm stuck in the same boat with my robo and I don't know what else to do I bought A pen but he will not come up to me he can only eat on my hand.
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Old 04-15-2020, 05:45 AM   #6
Ithuviel
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Default Re: Robo taming difficulty

Update:

This is my progress after 4 months VIDEO

Now after 6 month she is willing to climb on my hand without a treat being there and then receiving the treat.

I think this is as far as i could get her....
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Old 04-16-2020, 04:35 AM   #7
Courtflash
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Join Date: Dec 2018
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Default Re: Robo taming difficulty

Quote:
Originally Posted by graveyardalien View Post
I'm stuck in the same boat with my robo and I don't know what else to do I bought A pen but he will not come up to me he can only eat on my hand.
One thing to remember is that some hamsters will always hate human contact no matter what you do, so you might just have one of those hamsters.
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robos, treats, boys, taming, trouble, weeks, cage, minerva, tamed, october, remember, purchased, moving, slowly, i.e, forward, zoomy, spooks, matter, nibbles, lol, pet, hamsters, shop, advice

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