New Robo Hamster Sleep Behavior

[8RavenPhoenix8]

Recently, in introductions, I posted about the new roborovski hamster that was found running around outside by my mom’s coworker and given to my sister. He eats his food, runs on his wheel, and is docile and curious. He’s on the thin side which makes sense considering he was found outside and he likely wouldn’t have been able to find much food. We’ve ordered him better food than what the coworker supplied us and are going to get him a tank in place of his small two story cage.

What I’m here to ask about though, is his sleeping behavior. He made a little dent in his bedding by his wheel that he sleeps in, and can be found taking many naps throughout the day. Our previous hamsters, which were not roborovskis, were always much deeper in their bedding when they slept snd often we couldn’t even see them. I’ve read that robos need a good amount of digging medium since they do enjoy it, so I’m not sure why we can see his entire back when he sleeps and why he doesn’t bury himself more.

Right before I decided to post this, I found him sleeping completely exposed and on his side under his wheel. Is this normal? Should we be concerned? Thank you.

https://i.imgur.com/x4kwE1z.jpg

[Imogen]

There's a few reasons behind this so it depends on various factors.

1. It is either quite humid / hot
- so the hamster prefers sleeping more above substrate

2. It's their personality...
- My Syrian, Remy likes to burrow a fair bit in to the substrate in his nest. But my recent addition, coming from what I can see when I peep inside the door opening likes to sleep a little more above the substrate.
But your hamster may be one that just doesn't want to sleep there. There's a lot of hamsters that pick sleeping under or beside their wheel because they like it there. I've heard people mention that some of them love their wheel so much they make a nest on the wheel itself.

3. They're stressed because their environment is too small
- You mentioned the robo living in a small 2 story cage. Could be possible for your little guy since they require space and not height. Hams don't care for height. They require at least 4000cm2 (620 square inch) of unbroken floor space. You find common answers on here that state about 450 sq inch; but that's kind of outdated. People recommend 4000cm2 and for a female 5000cm2. My rule of thumb is for smaller species though that russians go for at least 5000cm2 since they are way more energetic and fast. Although you think they need smaller space due to their size - is the complete opposite. Bigger the better.

[8RavenPhoenix8]

There's a few reasons behind this so it depends on various factors.

1. It is either quite humid / hot
- so the hamster prefers sleeping more above substrate

2. It's their personality...
- My Syrian, Remy likes to burrow a fair bit in to the substrate in his nest. But my recent addition, coming from what I can see when I peep inside the door opening likes to sleep a little more above the substrate.
But your hamster may be one that just doesn't want to sleep there. There's a lot of hamsters that pick sleeping under or beside their wheel because they like it there. I've heard people mention that some of them love their wheel so much they make a nest on the wheel itself.

3. They're stressed because their environment is too small
- You mentioned the robo living in a small 2 story cage. Could be possible for your little guy since they require space and not height. Hams don't care for height. They require at least 4000cm2 (620 square inch) of unbroken floor space. You find common answers on here that state about 450 sq inch; but that's kind of outdated. People recommend 4000cm2 and for a female 5000cm2. My rule of thumb is for smaller species though that russians go for at least 5000cm2 since they are way more energetic and fast. Although you think they need smaller space due to their size - is the complete opposite. Bigger the better.

Ahhh I see. I am planning on getting him a much bigger space than what he has now and going for length rather than height and stories which led me to choosing a tank. It’s been a bit warm recently and it’s generally pretty humid where I live so I could see that too. I guess I’ll see if his sleeping behavior changes when he gets more space. Thank you!