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Old 08-03-2017, 02:47 PM   #1
Stardust79
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Default Worried about my new Roborovski

Hi guys,

So first of all, I am an experienced hamster owner. I lost my Syrian a month ago, he was almost 3.

So Monday, I decided that I was ready to bring a new baby home. Prepped the ZooZone 2 ready. I have a 10 week old female Roborovski. Bought her home, car journey was 15 minutes in a little travel carrier. Immediately put her carrier in the cage and let her wander out. She had a little run around on her wooden fortress, before going in there to sleep. My friend was here the night I got her, he can be very loud. She did have a little run for 5 minutes on her spinner. But since then I have only seen her twice, for no more than one minute. She will not come out of her house, she wont use her wheel. She literally just came out to gather a tiny bit of food and that's it. I even sat with the lights off until 3am for 2 nights, and she wont come out. I actually didn't see her for 24 hours and became concerned, luckily she did come out for a few seconds, as I really didn't want to lift her house up and scare her.

I live alone, no kids, no frequent visitors. My home is quiet. I have one other hamster who is well away from her cage. My sleep pattern is back to front and I don't sleep until 4am. But I watch TV through headphones. No noise. I haven't been in her cage, except just to change water and food. She was in a cage with 6 siblings. Maybe this is very overwhelming for her, especially being put in a massive cage. But I have owned hamsters for 20 years. NEVER have I experienced a hamster not coming out at all! Just a little concerned that 3 days now, she wont come out. There is no evidence that she has even used anything whilst I was asleep. No footprints in her sand bath, no mess on the wheel or spinner. Should I be worried?
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Old 08-03-2017, 03:53 PM   #2
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

In my experience, it's not unusual for robos to hide. This is especially normal in your case, as your ham is still very new. I'd give her a few more weeks to settle before being concerned. Add more cover in the cage- this includes, tunnels, nests, toilet tubes, and huts. This cover may encourage her to come out a bit more often


Just wanted to note that some hams are a bit reclusive. My robo almost never comes out. I, like you, stayed up very late into the night in hopes of spotting her, but to no avail. I've just left her alone, and as long as she's happy and healthy, then I'm just fine with it
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Old 08-03-2017, 04:22 PM   #3
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

Thank you. Oh 2 of my hamsters, Syrians have never been the "come out" types. My Syrian who I lost recently, almost never came out, and my rescue Syrian who I still have, she does come out and is sociable with me. But she loves her bed more!
But my experience with robos and dwarf's has been that they were very active and out for hours at night.

This new little one has lot's of bridges, and hidey holes in her cage. She has 3 huts too. She has been hiding in her double ended wooden house all of this time, which has a bridge outside either end that gives her extra shelter over the entrances. She has covered those over and the hole in her log over with Carefresh and paper nesting.

I did see her for a split second after posting this thread. But as soon as I walked back in the room, she darted back to safety.

Just odd in my experience with robos. I know they are timid, but my others were quite social from the day I bought them home. Obviously they were cautious, but they still came out and played on their wheel. I just wondered to myself, maybe she misses the safety of her siblings. But in my experience, all of my pairs had to be separated due to serious bullying. So this time, I just got the 1. They were all fighting in that cage in the pet store.

I feel sad for her. I still think it is something to do with my friend being over the first night she was here. She was out on her flying saucer, then he pushed the chair next to her cage and she hasn't been out since. He is in his 40's, he didn't do anything or go near her. Just being loud.
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Old 08-03-2017, 04:50 PM   #4
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

I don't think it would be anything you or your friend did in all honesty. I felt bad for my robo too, but I suppose if hiding makes them happy, then that's all we could ask for, right? I too was under the impression that robos run all night, but I suppose that's not always the case. Perhaps you could try confidence building. Holding out treats in the cage and seeing if that might encourage her. Good luck!
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Old 08-03-2017, 04:53 PM   #5
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

I've been blessed with social robos who are up during evening hours. But I have a WW hybrid that I've had for 5 mo who loves to sleep all the time. Tonight I lifted her house a little just to lure her out with a pumpkin seed to make sure she is looking good & healthy. Monday isn't that long. I'd leave her alone for 2 weeks before expecting much. It takes months sometimes before you can bond with a robo. Don't get discouraged, just need alot of patience & depending on the animal it will pay off.
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Old 08-03-2017, 05:33 PM   #6
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

Thank you for your replies. I have no intention of starting any taming at the moment. It's too soon to even go sticking my hand in the cage with a treat. I just dropped a treat in last night and tonight. I am just changing water and food right now, and gently talking to her a few times a night (Even though she is probably asleep) I have lot's of patience. I was just a little concerned by her behaviour. I do not mind if she doesn't come out. I had just never in 20 years come across this to this extreme. I shall leave her be for a good week before I attempt to hold out a treat outside her house. I will take it at her pace. I am a very patient person. I adopted a Syrian, who was just so scared. It took months, but now she loves to come out for cuddles. My previous robos...1 was hand tame, the other liked to be stroked but not picked up. They are all different. This new one could surprise me in months to come, but if she isn't one for that, then she will get fussed in the cage.
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Old 08-03-2017, 10:35 PM   #7
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

Try not to worry too much, I know that's easier said than done but some can be very nervous at first & take a while to gain enough confidence to come out when anyone is around. It can be a big shock for them to suddenly find themselves all alone in a strange place but she will adjust in her own time.
I would just carry on as you are, with nervous one's I do the same, just spend lots of time talking quietly to them (even when they hide away) & always leave a small treat when I go away. Do the tissue trick too if you haven't already, put a piece of plain white toilet tissue up your sleeve for a few hours then shred it up & put it in the cage, repeat daily if need be so she can get used to your scent.
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Old 08-05-2017, 02:41 PM   #8
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

So 6 days on, and she still wont come out. I saw her for 2 seconds last night. I walked back in the room, and she darted into her wheel and hunched up, before darting back in her house She emptied her food bowl in the night.

So I am currently walking around with a tissue in my bra!
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Old 08-05-2017, 06:29 PM   #9
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

It's tough isn't it, when you're excited to get them home but they're all "nope!" about coming out. It can take a while to settle in. I've personally found though that having a smaller "taming cage" can be helpful - they've (usually) come from a Petshop in a small tank so to go straight into a great big cage can be a bit overwhelming - especially as they're not always used to having people coming at them from above. So with my hams I tend to put them in a smaller cage 'til they're ready to go up a size. I've found they seem less skittish in a smaller tank so helps them get used to you. Actually, my last robo Hector didn't settle at all well when I did upgrade him so he went back down to the mini duna he started in and was much happier. He was skittish and his when he was in the duna multy but went back to being the friendly little fluff that he seemed to be when I first got him. Of course they're all different & a lot of robos are "furry goldfish" - fun to watch but can stay skittish so don't be downhearted as it's just their personality. It takes a while to figure them out but they're great fun when you do.
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Old 08-06-2017, 10:22 AM   #10
Stardust79
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Default Re: Worried about my new Roborovski

I sadly sold my ZooZone 1 cage. It would of been perfect for her. I know full well that robos are not cuddly pets. They are more to look at. But I am concerned now. I will have to take her house away briefly tonight, as I need to do a visual health check. I actually haven't seen her at all for almost 3 days straight now. I know she is okay, as she has emptied her bowl each night. But I have never experienced this. I am also going to move her cage to my bedroom, as I am wondering if she can smell my Syrian hamster in the living room, where she currently is. I feel mean that I am going to have to take her house away for a short time this evening, but I really do need to see if she is okay after 6 days of her not coming out. It literally has been 4 times 30 second visual of her in 6 days. I understand that they are nervous. But to not be seen at all is a little unusual. Robos are very active, she has shown no signs of being active. Usually there is a little pee and poop on wheels and houses ect...I cannot even see any poops anywhere. So yes, I am going to have to disturb her tonight for 5 minutes to check on her.
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