Hi introducing Hagrid

Littlefriend · 02-21-2021, 06:04 PM

Hi I’m new to the forum. Been lurking for a few weeks but decided it was time to join. A month ago I brought home Hagrid our pure white Roborovski. This was after a few months of consideration, as every time we went into pets at home to buy food for our gecko, my 8 year old daughter would plead with me to get one. My answer was always, we’ll see. I always liked the idea but didn’t want to jump into it. But the day arrived & we got all we needed & picked Hagrid out & brought him home.
We let him get used to his surroundings for the first week & just sorted his food & water etc. He seemed to be settling fine.
I watched many videos & read many posts about Robos & all about taming.
I purchased a pop up play pen & over the next few nights, used his favourite egg box to lift him out & gave him 10-15 mins out of his cage. We placed our hands in the play pen & just let him investigate. That went well. So then I placed dried mealworms on our hands & he happily sat on our hand & ate it. We just let him decided when he wanted to crawl on our hands for a couple of nights & then progressed to scooping him up. That also went well although at first he did jump off quickly. We have him out in his playpen every night & now that is for about 30 mins. He is happily walking hand to hand with me & tonight he let me stroke his back without running off. Both me & my daughter are very taken with him

His cage is not actually the minimum 80:50 but sadly I was not aware of this at the time we got him. It is 70cm by 40cm as this is all I have space for at the minute. He does seem happy & I will make sure he has daily out of cage time also. It is a plastic bottom & wire top cage with 3inch of carefresh bedding in the bottom, his wheel is 8inch in diameter & he manages that fine (loves it) he has a small nest that he uses under the upper level so nice & dark. He’s fed on P@H muesli for hamsters mixed with nuggets to try & make sure he gets what he needs. He has 1or2 mealworms every other day as treats. I’ve given him small amounts of plain cooked pasta, spinach, Broccoli & Carrot over the last month. He didn’t touch the carrot lol. Just introducing things in small amounts & not all at once.
Wow this has turned into a long post sorry lol.
Anyway pictures below of Hagrid & his home.

Ria P · 02-22-2021, 03:00 AM

Hi and welcome to HC!

Hagrid is a beautiful hamster and you're so lucky to have a tame Robo.

Some people may disagree with me but i think the p@h xl cage is not a bad cage for a dwarf hamster and just about big enough. As long as he's happy, that's the main thing.

I would fill the substrate right up to the top of the base because Robos love to burrow and make tunnels.

All my hamsters and especially my Robo love brown linseeds. I give them a pinch every day and Robo Monty sits on my hand to eat them. They're good for their fur.
The proper, tiny seeds not the powdery breakfast topping. I buy them at the co-op.

Where does the name Hagrid origin? Sounds Scandinavian.

Ria P · 02-22-2021, 03:05 AM

Just had another look at Hagrid's cage and couldn't see a sandbath unless it's in the far corner.
If he hasn't got one then he'll need one.

I use the Tiny Friends Farm bathing sand from p@h and any container that fits would be fine. Just make sure its on the shelf or supported because Robos will burrow under anything.

Littlefriend · 02-22-2021, 05:13 AM

Thanks for your welcome reply.
I will top the bedding up as you have suggested thanks.
I did have tiny friends sand but heard horror stories about it, so after doing a bit of research have now got P@H dessert (non calcium sand) I have Hagrid’s sand bath in his playpen each night instead of in his cage.
I have also scattered fed him floral feast herbs this week as a extra treat

Oh & his name comes from Harry Potter, he is a character from the books/films & my daughter is a big Harry Potter fan & well it seemed a great name for a boy hamster

Littlefriend · 02-22-2021, 05:31 AM

Hagrid’s playpen

Littlefriend · 02-22-2021, 07:42 AM

Just a couple of little videos of Hagrid in his wheel & playpen

Hagrid on his wheel. - YouTube

Hagrid in his playpen. - YouTube

Also forgot to say, we asked roughly how old Hagrid was when we got him & the lady at P@H said about 12 weeks, so we decided his birthday would be Halloween

Littlefriend · 02-22-2021, 11:38 AM

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Hagrid enjoying a meal worm. I need to get some clearer pictures

when I zoom in on these there aren’t too clear & then I struggle to resize them also.

Ria P · 02-22-2021, 12:07 PM

He is absolutely adorable! I think you're very lucky to get photos and videos of him. Robos have a reputation of being very shy.

Littlefriend · 02-22-2021, 01:23 PM

I do feel very lucky

He really has surprised me how sociable he is this early on.
C748C940-43CB-4973-9D7A-241A1C099CC5.png

cypher · 02-27-2021, 10:41 AM

Late catching up here but had to say how adorable Hagrid is, what a great little man, love the photos & vids, his name really made me laugh!

I would keep the sand bath in his cage if you can, it really is important for them to have access to it whenever they want rather than just in the evenings.