Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Species > Dwarf Roborovskis Hamster

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-21-2020, 09:51 PM   #1
NubiNuNu
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Portland OR with my lovely Robo ham
Posts: 46
Default New Robo Hamster

I got a Robo hamster about a week ago. She is a healthy, 8 month old female. Her bin cage has about 493 sq. inches and I wanted to connect another bin to it. I'm just wondering if she is fine in that cage, or if she would like having a little more space. Please let me know what you think!
NubiNuNu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2020, 10:12 PM   #2
graveyardalien
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 9
Default Re: New Robo Hamster

Hi there!

I got my Robo about a month ago and 493 sq is above the bare minimum 450 which is good. I would suggest sizing up if further down the line your hamster starts to seem bored.

Just so you know, connecting two enclosures together does not equal more floor space. Hamsters need continuous floor space for it to be beneficial, however, if you still would like to connect a separate bin I would suggest you have either have it filled with very deep bedding (7-10 inch) so that bin can be used just for burrowing OR put sand in that bin, Robos LOVE sand.

Hope this helped
graveyardalien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2020, 11:04 PM   #3
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: New Robo Hamster

What are the dimensions of the bin? Robos do often enjoy a larger cage if it's set up right for them with a large enough wheel (at least 20cm), deep substrate to burrow in, lots of enrichment, tunnels, hideouts & a good size sand area.
Connecting bins safely isn't an easy option tbh, it's generally better to have one large bin, tank or cage.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2020, 03:24 AM   #4
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: New Robo Hamster

Do you have a photo? I found our robo was happy in an 80cm by 50cm (floor area) cage. I thought he may have enjoyed a bit more space even - but he seemed happy in that. Some of it also depends on set up - they like to feel protected overhead so a shelf or platform helps them feel secure - something to hide under - and ours loved to climb on his - I had his sand bath on it so it didn't sink in the substrate. They also love their wheels and ours had an upright wheel and a flying saucer and would use both.

They are very active so they do like a good sized cage, providing there are plenty of floor toys for them to dive under and a good depth of substrate. I only had about 5" deep in our cage but our robo would pile it up in a heap in the area he wanted his nest.

But their personalities do vary and some are quite shy. Which country are you in? I found it difficult with top access only with a robo as a hand coming from above scared ours and I found the access difficult generally, so moved him to the slightly bigger barred cage which had a big front door and made interacting easier with him. Some of that depends on the hamster and you can always lower a tube for them to walk into and lift them out that way (carefully!).

I wouldn't add another bin. Two joining cages don't give the effect of them having the one territory which they like to do different things in. They do much better with one space that's the right size.

As you've only had her a week, I wouldn't think about upgrading her cage just yet, she'll need at least 2 weeks to fully settle and mark her environment. Also, don't clean anything for the first two weeks. Robos are not particularly smelly and the amount they pee is tiny (I reckon it evaporates mostly!). So you could even go 3 or 4 weeks without cleaning her out. And even then it's best not to clean everything at the same time. With a robo I used to clean one half of the cage at a time so the other half always stayed and smelled familiar. Then do the other half 3 or 4 weeks later when he'd settled again. Also if you can keep back some old substrate that is clean and sprinkle/spread that on top of the new, when you do one half, then that helps them adjust to the change quicker. They don't do well with change and disturbance.

So even when just doing half the cage, it's still best to just do the substrate - do the wheel another week and any toys another week again. Leave their nest in tact if you can and dry hoard can also be left. Our robo never pee'd in his nest and it always stayed clean and dry (and rather cosy). If you keep putting out strips of torn up plain white toilet paper in a pile,they will keep refurbishing their nest themselves.

If you ever do have to remove their hoard (it can get quite large or be a bit stale at the bottom half) then always try and leave some behind and add some new food as well. Never remove all of it or they get very stressed and start to have abnormal behaviours. If you do have to remove all of it for some reason (unlikely with a robo), then always put new food back in the same place to replace it.

Anyway enough about cleaning. I would leave her in the current cage for about a month and see how she goes. If you have a photo it could help us advise on things you might want to add for enrichment/cover so it isn't too exposed. Although you may have that sorted aready. Adding the odd thing is usually accepted well, but moving things round or taking them away can stress them. She needs a good couple of weeks just to settle really, but adding something is ok if it helps give her some enrichment or to feel more secure.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2020, 08:01 AM   #5
sushi_78
Hamster Overlord
 
sushi_78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: London
Posts: 763
Default Re: New Robo Hamster

She's probably fine in that bin, especially in the short term. Mine is in a Duna Multy which has a similar floor space, and she's fine in it. She's not the typical very active Robo though, and that's about as big as I would go for her. In most cases, Robos love more space though because they are so active, so if you can connect another bin, or ideally get one larger cage, later on, I'm sure she'd love that.

In the short term, it's probably best to keep things as they are, especially if you are trying to tame her. Smaller cages make taming easier. Lots of cage changes in a short period of time can be stressful.
sushi_78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2020, 10:30 AM   #6
NubiNuNu
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Portland OR with my lovely Robo ham
Posts: 46
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Do you have a photo? I found our robo was happy in an 80cm by 50cm (floor area) cage. I thought he may have enjoyed a bit more space even - but he seemed happy in that. Some of it also depends on set up - they like to feel protected overhead so a shelf or platform helps them feel secure - something to hide under - and ours loved to climb on his - I had his sand bath on it so it didn't sink in the substrate. They also love their wheels and ours had an upright wheel and a flying saucer and would use both.

They are very active so they do like a good sized cage, providing there are plenty of floor toys for them to dive under and a good depth of substrate. I only had about 5" deep in our cage but our robo would pile it up in a heap in the area he wanted his nest.

But their personalities do vary and some are quite shy. Which country are you in? I found it difficult with top access only with a robo as a hand coming from above scared ours and I found the access difficult generally, so moved him to the slightly bigger barred cage which had a big front door and made interacting easier with him. Some of that depends on the hamster and you can always lower a tube for them to walk into and lift them out that way (carefully!).

I wouldn't add another bin. Two joining cages don't give the effect of them having the one territory which they like to do different things in. They do much better with one space that's the right size.

As you've only had her a week, I wouldn't think about upgrading her cage just yet, she'll need at least 2 weeks to fully settle and mark her environment. Also, don't clean anything for the first two weeks. Robos are not particularly smelly and the amount they pee is tiny (I reckon it evaporates mostly!). So you could even go 3 or 4 weeks without cleaning her out. And even then it's best not to clean everything at the same time. With a robo I used to clean one half of the cage at a time so the other half always stayed and smelled familiar. Then do the other half 3 or 4 weeks later when he'd settled again. Also if you can keep back some old substrate that is clean and sprinkle/spread that on top of the new, when you do one half, then that helps them adjust to the change quicker. They don't do well with change and disturbance.

So even when just doing half the cage, it's still best to just do the substrate - do the wheel another week and any toys another week again. Leave their nest in tact if you can and dry hoard can also be left. Our robo never pee'd in his nest and it always stayed clean and dry (and rather cosy). If you keep putting out strips of torn up plain white toilet paper in a pile,they will keep refurbishing their nest themselves.

If you ever do have to remove their hoard (it can get quite large or be a bit stale at the bottom half) then always try and leave some behind and add some new food as well. Never remove all of it or they get very stressed and start to have abnormal behaviours. If you do have to remove all of it for some reason (unlikely with a robo), then always put new food back in the same place to replace it.

Anyway enough about cleaning. I would leave her in the current cage for about a month and see how she goes. If you have a photo it could help us advise on things you might want to add for enrichment/cover so it isn't too exposed. Although you may have that sorted aready. Adding the odd thing is usually accepted well, but moving things round or taking them away can stress them. She needs a good couple of weeks just to settle really, but adding something is ok if it helps give her some enrichment or to feel more secure.
Thank you for the advice. I will try to add a photo once I am able to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
She's probably fine in that bin, especially in the short term. Mine is in a Duna Multy which has a similar floor space, and she's fine in it. She's not the typical very active Robo though, and that's about as big as I would go for her. In most cases, Robos love more space though because they are so active, so if you can connect another bin, or ideally get one larger cage, later on, I'm sure she'd love that.

In the short term, it's probably best to keep things as they are, especially if you are trying to tame her. Smaller cages make taming easier. Lots of cage changes in a short period of time can be stressful.
Thank you for your advice. I am thinking of getting an Ikea detolf for her, but I might wait until she is completely comfortable in her cage.

Last edited by souffle; 02-26-2020 at 03:54 AM.
NubiNuNu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2020, 10:35 AM   #7
NubiNuNu
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Portland OR with my lovely Robo ham
Posts: 46
Default Re: New Robo Hamster

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
What are the dimensions of the bin? Robos do often enjoy a larger cage if it's set up right for them with a large enough wheel (at least 20cm), deep substrate to burrow in, lots of enrichment, tunnels, hideouts & a good size sand area.
Connecting bins safely isn't an easy option tbh, it's generally better to have one large bin, tank or cage.
She has an 8 inch wheel, and she loves to run in it especially at night, since she used to have a mesh wheel from her past owner. I gave her at least 9 inches of bedding in 2 big corners of the cage, and she loves it. I gave her some toilet paper tubes a few days ago but i might have to add a bigger sand area, since she likes to burrow in that area.
NubiNuNu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2020, 11:00 AM   #8
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: New Robo Hamster

Sounds like she has a lovely set up. A detolf would be amazing. You could even “expand” it gradually by sectioning off a third until she’s adjusted then remove the section . Although some people have used one end of the cage as a deep digging area .
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2020, 08:12 PM   #9
NubiNuNu
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Portland OR with my lovely Robo ham
Posts: 46
Default Re: New Robo Hamster

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Sounds like she has a lovely set up. A detolf would be amazing. You could even “expand” it gradually by sectioning off a third until she’s adjusted then remove the section . Although some people have used one end of the cage as a deep digging area .
Sorry this was so long ago...
She has a detolf now and I gave her a huge sand bath area with a hideout in it that she loves. She is so happy.
NubiNuNu is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bin, cage, fine, hamster, robo

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:04 PM.