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Old 08-27-2020, 12:20 PM   #1
Daisy27
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Join Date: Aug 2020
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Question My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

I just bought 2 female roborovski hamsters two days ago! Honey is the skinnier one and Ginger is the chubbier one, and they are both so so adorable. The thing is, they both sleep before midnight all the way until 12pm the next day. I’m not sure if it’s healthy for them to do so or not because they are nocturnal. But I’ve read that they might be stressed or just new to the environment but they sleep for so long and through the night! Is this okay?
Does anyone recommend any food/treats? Honey eats seed millets but Ginger doesn’t like them that much. How about toys? Any help would be appreciated.
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Old 08-28-2020, 03:30 PM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

Hi and welcome to HC!

Hamsters don't always sleep when they're in their houses or burried in the substrate somewhere. They eat, groom, scratch, move around and go for a drink as well as sleep.

I sometimes don't see one of my dwarfs for days because he spends most of his time underground and hamsters about when i'm asleep.
Your hamsters need to settle in and get familiar with their habitats, new smells and sounds and may venture out when its dark and quiet and you're asleep so give them time to adjust.

As for food, Rodipet dwarf hamster junior food is a good mix because its small textured. As for treats, linseeds and mealworms are popular, millet sprays they like to nibble on and tiny amounts of fresh foods introduced slowly like cucumber and broccoli are usually well liked.
Hamsters like a Whimzee dog chew. I get the xs toothbrushes.

As for toys, Robos like all hamsters need a good upright wheel and deep substrate and they like things to run through. My Robo loves his wood log with the holes and he likes to run along the long bendy Trixie ladders, over and under them, bendy bridges, hides, tunnels, cardboard tubes, cork tunnel etc. Robos are fast and active so need a good sized cage with plenty of things to do.

What kind of cages do you have? You could have a look on the thread "Let's see your cages" on the Forum under Housing to get ideas.
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Old 08-28-2020, 10:01 PM   #3
Daisy27
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

Thank you for getting back to me and welcoming me to HC! I have already read some stuff and gave me lots of ideas

My hamsters have been teething and biting on the cage and food bowl. I have apple orchard sticks for them but they refuse to use them! I have read to spread a little thin layer of peanut butter and they still ignore them. Do you have any suggestions?

As of right now, I only have a small Kaytee cage for them but I’m switching it to a bigger cage in the next couple days. It was something for me to just start out with but I realized i should’ve just gotten a bigger cage from the jump!

And thank you for the toys and foods suggestions! The feed back is very appreciated, I’ve read some stuff online but to hear it from someone with personal experience helps a lot!
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Old 08-29-2020, 05:16 AM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

A lot of hamsters won’t chew on wood or things sold as chew toys, the whimzee dog chews hat Ria mentioned are about the best thing for them & almost all hams love them.
They may be chewing on the cage because they don’t have enough enrichment or space if the cage is small, they need plenty to explore, lots of hideouts, things like cork logs are good as both a hide & something safe to climb on.
Do you have a sand bath? These are really important for robos to keep their coats & skin in good condition & they really enjoy digging around in the sand too, as big as you can manage depending on your cage size & deep enough to have a good dig in, use chinchilla sand but not dust.
Are you keeping them together? Most pairs will fall out as they mature so you do have to keep a very close eye on them to make sure they’re not fighting or one isn’t stressing the other out, sometimes with pairs you will see that one is smaller than the other as the dominant one may prevent it from getting sufficient food.
If they are together be sure to scatter feed plenty of food so there is more chance of both getting what they need, scatter feeding is also enrichment for them & keeps them busy.
Also if they are together you need two of everything, wheels, bottles, bowls etc & houses with more than one exit.
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Old 08-29-2020, 05:48 AM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daisy27 View Post
My hamsters have been teething and biting on the cage and food bowl. I have apple orchard sticks for them but they refuse to use them! I have read to spread a little thin layer of peanut butter and they still ignore them. Do you have any suggestions?
A lot of us started off with a cage that was too small. I did and wheels as well. I upgraded my first hamster's wheel three times and his house i had to upgrade as well aside from his cage.
If i wouldn't have listened to the petshop and found out about this forum sooner i could have saved myself quite a bit of money.
I have five hamsters now of different species but would never keep a pair because i would be far too worried that they could start a fight while i'm not around.

When you get the big cage and double up on everything as advised by cypher, keep the old cage just in case you have to separate them immediately and then get a second big cage.
At least you are prepared then, should you decide to keep them together, that is assuming that you are keeping them together now.

I wouldn't use peanut butter because it wouldn't make them chew the stick. They'd simply lick it off if they like it.
A Whimzee dog chew is cheap to buy and i haven't met a hamster yet who doesn't like one. The Whimzee may well disappear underground or in their nest or house. Hamsters make a big effort to move or hide a Whimzee.

Petshops give out a lot of misleading and at times dangerous information, sell totally unsuitable cages and chews, toys and wheels etc which are of no use to most hamsters.

Keeping hamsters is a learning process and by improving our knowledge we improve our hamsters lives.
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Old 08-29-2020, 09:28 AM   #6
Maker
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

Just to add, when you move to the new cage they will need time to settle again, it kind of restarts the clock . Would love to see some photos of them when they are brave enough
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Old 08-30-2020, 12:10 AM   #7
Daisy27
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

The cage I have them in right now isn't the biggest so I definitely will be switching houses for them soon! I honestly wish I researched more before purchasing this cage for them, but I'm learning along the way! I don't have sand bath for them right now, but I've been looking for some. Do you have any brands that you recommend? I have trouble finding one that suits them well.
As of right now, I am keeping them together but I haven't seen them fight. I see them cuddled up, sleeping together though. But that's for right now, it'll probably change in the future!

Last edited by Daisy27; 08-30-2020 at 12:17 AM.
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Old 08-30-2020, 12:15 AM   #8
Daisy27
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

Same! I wish I found this forum earlier. I got mine at Petco and I wish I researched more because what they tell us is so misleading. I agree with the fighting though, I'm scared about that. I want to transfer them into a bin house for them, with more space and toys for them to play.
My girls don't like the peanut butter but I have read about the sticky situation of it, so thank you for letting me know that as well!
I will try the dog chews for them. I put in a toilet paper roll for them and they love it, but Honey has been teething lately and biting the roll, and I'm assuming eating it as well? I've read that it's okay but also not the best because they can get sick from it. Should I remove it?
I'm sorry for so many questions! It's nice to have someone who have personal experiences with them, because sometimes, researching online isn't the easiest.
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Old 08-30-2020, 12:16 AM   #9
Daisy27
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

Ah yes! I will be giving time for them to settle in their new home soon And I will post some photos of them soon! Thank you
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Old 08-30-2020, 01:23 AM   #10
Ria P
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Default Re: My robo hamster sleeps a lot?!

Sand is very important to a Robo. You don't need to buy a sand bath. Any container that fits is fine. A plastic tub, glass dish, biscuit tin, ceramic dish etc, i use them all. It has to be the right sand though, chinchilla sand and not dust.

You also have to watch out for bullying and not just outright fighting where they can seriously injure each other. Keep an eye on the skinnier one to make sure she gets enough food.

Another option would be to get two bigger cages now and rehouse them separately. That way you can relax and the hamsters will be happy.

Cardboard is fine to chew on.
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