Getting a new robo? Thoughts please :)

[DeePaige]

Hi, my hamster Fudge is a 1 half year old female robo, she is my pride and joy and i love her to bits, but i was thinking of getting her a friend to keep her company through the time im at work as i cant spend all day with her and im scared of her getting bored on her own.
What do you think? Is she better on her own or would getting her a mate benefit her?

[Pygmypuff]

I'm afraid she's too old now to be introduced to another robo, but I'm sure she's perfectly happy on her own. Hamsters are solitary animals in general and love to do their own little thing.

As long as you have some time in the evenings then that's fine

[POLAR WHITES]

I personally wouldn't try and introduce a new hamster into her space as she probably wont take well to it, you could try in a new cage slowly with bars between and see how it goes, but after so long alone, I wouldn't other might be better advising who have successful done so,

[Skeever]

Hamsters aren't people and don't process things the way we do. They don't get lonely, which is why they're labeled 'solitary'....many rodents need friends of their own kind to be happy...hams are the exception. While a pair of robos may very well get along fine, they are usually litter mates or the very least introduced younger than six months.

Even litter mates can fight eventually, then we have to separate them as their territorial instincts take over. If she wasn't with a partner already, I wouldn't think of introducing one now.

Plus your average hamster sleeps during the time we are at work. They are more nocturnal. Other people, especially people who own a lot of robos may have more advice on pairs, but while they're possibly the most 'social' of the hams, at six months, it could be more trouble than its worth thinking they need a pal to hang out with when they're fine on their own. Given that ANY pair can fail out, its not a requirement to introduce a second one as it might be with gerbils, female mice, rats or piggies.

Also, if they had a lifelong 'mate' of the same sex, they may actually respond to the loss of that mate. But it doesn't translate into them happily accepting another outside robo into their home?

[DeePaige]

Thank you so much everyone! Well that knocks that idea on the head :P Thanks you much xxx

[velma]

As the others have said, it's a no-no & your hammy is probably asleep in the day when you're not there anyway but if you're worried about her getting bored, there are some great DIY toy threads on here so maybe you could make her some new things for her cage? I'm sure she would love that far more.

[Skeever]

Of course, nothing is stopping you from getting a second, third and fourth hammy....just not putting them into one cage. One cage each and you're good to go, till you run out of room, money or sanity

Hamsters aren't addictive. I can stop anytime I want. I just don't want to stop