p@h yesterday, saw two robo's being sold..

[raindrop]

Whenever I go into p@h for anything i always pay a visit to the hammies etc.
Yesterday, two small excited children were choosing hamsters, with their parents and had decided on 2 robo's.
The assistant unlocked them while the kids looked on and parents asked questions.
the assistant told them they are very quick, need to hold them like this etc I couldn't hear the whole of the conversation and didn't want to be too nosy. (well i did, but it wouldn't have been polite)
But when the mum looked over to me she said arent they fast , I agreed and i ponted out that mine are rarely out during the day prefering to come out quite late and spend hours on the wheels.
the assistant didn't say anything and just boxed up two, mum asked then about the sex of the ones boxed, but the assistant said she didn't know, and would 'have a look'
I'm only new to hammies having got my robo's a few weeks ago, i have already upgraded their domain bought endless toys etc(as you do) so i am by no means an expert.

But it struck me that perhaps a robo was not the best choice, as they are so small and fast and I have only just got mine to tolerate me handling them although Puddle will take food from my fingers.

And if they are going to be active at night, they arent going to around during the childrens waking hours, and may be a disappointment to them

Am I worrying for nothing

[T-Bone]

No, you're quite right to think that - I don't think robo's are really suitable for children, though it is worth noting that they don't seem to bite as much as other hammies.

[mollldoll]

We have been in the same situation at my local P@H but my boyfreind recommended a syrian to the family and explained that robos weren't a child's pet (so to speak).

I have allot of horror stories about P@H but wont get started here.

[souffle]

You could contact customer services with your comments however at the end of the day it is the parents who were buying the hamsters and are ultimitly responsible for their welfare.

[raindrop]

Yes, the parents were the ones buying, but they were relying on the assistant, telling them what they needed to buy. When I think that the assistants should be informing them more responsibly. But the animals are there to be sold and if the retailing criteria is met the sale will go ahead.

I just wish folk would at least do some homework first before they hype their kids up and take them to the pet shop for their purchase.

I did read up online and buy at least three books, they don't tell the whole story though, but at least you get a good outline of what to expect. But personally i feel I am learning more through this forum and actually owning them, but then I'm not a wee child that is expecting to have a cuddly playmate*, and I am an insomniac and I AM awake when they play!

* robo's are sweet, beautiful expressions and lovely soft fur, but being so small and fast I could imagine that many could come to grief.

[flogging_molly]

not a very good choice for kids as much of the time they are hiding and when they do come out they are incredibly fast for a child to hold. They are more "to watch" pets which many kids don't have the patience for.

I've had robos from p@h once because I felt sorry for them and would never again as I got a male and female so ended up getting a crash course in robo sexing which is incredibly difficult as you can imagine - luckily at the time I had the time and cages and was breeding dwarf hamsters so had the means to care for them and know what to do for them.

[furrypolka]

I had a pair of robos from P@H too, though to be fair the assistant made it very clear that they were not cuddly hamsters and that I knew what to expect. Unfortunately she got the sexes completely wrong, which is why I now have seven robos

I would make a complaint if you feel that the assistant was just trying to make a sale and not giving the correct practical advice.