Wondering about Robos

[kiki & the bear]

Hey everyone!

I don't know that I'm quite ready for another hammy just yet as Bear only passed away 2 days ago now, but maybe in a few weeks or for my birthday in January it might be nice to get a new fluffy of even a few new mini fluffies.
In my travels around the forum I've seen some adorable roborovskis that have got me wondering.... what are they like as pets? I've pretty much always had syrians - i had two russian dwarfs once - so I wondered how do they compare? Or do they not? Are they just totally different characters? Are robos quite happy to be handled once tamed? Which sex is best to get if I do opt for robos? I found my male syrian a lot more easygoing than my females, is it the same with robos? I've heard and seen how fast they are and even had to catch an escapee once so I think my speed is up to scratch ...although in all honesty it took me little while. I know hamster characters differ so I just want a rough idea of general experiences.

If anyone has robos and syrians I'd be interested to hear your views as well as the views of all the happy robo owners! Pros and cons please, I can take it!

Thanks and I look forward to your replies.

Ki x

[Hope]

I have one syrian, one russian dwarf and 2 robo boys, and I have to say that although my robos are cute and funny, I have a much better relationship with my syrian and my dwarf. Not for the want of trying but the robos just do not want to be my friend! Whereas with Phoebe and Boris, they seem to have a more defined personality somehow. Do little things that makes them 'them' but as the boys do not like me very much I have found it hard to get to know them. This is my first experience with robos though, so maybe I am expecting too much from them. Mine are from a breeder and once caught are ok with being held, but they are a nightmare to catch. Do not under estimate the speed of these little guys, they are like lightening and then some, one minute sat in your palm happily chomping, the next they have flown up your shoulder and launched themselves onto the floor, in the space of a nano second! Them being so small makes them like a bar of soap too as you cant get a good grip on them.

Having said all thhis though I know that there are robos who are perfeclty happy tobe handled and although they are not into cuddles like syrians are they dont mind being held for a while. Mine will take mealworms from my fingers, sit and eat in my hand, will be out and play while I am there (some hide at even the mereest sniff of a human!) but they do not like to be held in a hand, it stresses them out and takes them ages to settle again.

Just read this through and I havent made them sound very good pets have I?! They are fantasic pets, fun to watch, loop de looping in their wheel, flying around the cage at a million miles an hour, digging like loons, and their little pinky whiskery noses are justt the cutest ever - they always remind me of little old men!!

In my opinion, if you want a companion type pet, maybe robos are not for you, but if you want laughs and entertainment, without them taking up too much of your time and waniting a lot of attnetion then they will be right up your street!! Good luck with deciding!

[SarahJ]

I agree with Hope here.
Robo's are great pets but they dont like cuddles.
My boy Billy is fine being held for a short amount of time then he just wants to run all over the place - they have alot of engry these little guys. but saying that Billy has fallen asleep in myhand once which was the cutest thing ever.
If you decide to get a robo i would try from a breeder, Billy is a pet shop ham and has 'spinning' this courses him to run around in a very fast on the spot circle when he gets stressed or over happy. this is caused by mainly bad breeding and i have had to limit his cage space to make sure he doesnt have problems getting to his food bowl or water bottle.

[kiki & the bear]

Hope, you haven't made them sound like bad pets at all! Very entertaining in fact Aww, hopefully they'll want to be your friend soon...they might change their minds! I had two russian dwarves that didn't want to be my friend, but to be honest they didn't want to be each other's friends so i tried not to take it too personally.

SarahJ, poor little Billy! Sounds like he got a loving home though, which is always nice.
I would be looking to get them from a breeder if there are no shelter hams in need of a good home.

Thanks Hope and SarahJ for your opinions on robos, it's given me some food for thought.

Thanks very much!

Ki xx

[fluffymunchkins]

Well if you want my biast opinion...robos are brilliant

They are certainly different to other species of hamster and it is hit and miss with how tame they will be. This sometimes surprises people when they get them

From my experience they are very curious and friendly, they just need to learn to trust you and often this takes time.
An example of the variation in character is the relationship between me, Peggy and Dot.
Me and Peggy had a very close bond throughout her life and she really felt like a best friend. I could cut her nails, stroke her and she would always be willing to play with me.
Whereas my and Dot although it didn't appear we were best friends, we excepted each other when for how we were, I knew when she didn't want to be bothered and when she did.
They are like little zooming bullets and certain things have to be adapted to get used to this (ninja fast reactions )
But what really got to me was how they always forgave me and sat through all teh things i did wrong as i learnt the ropes.

Sorry i think i've gone all Soppy on you, but i hope i can convince you that if you love them they will return it in there own way

[kiki & the bear]

Originally Posted by fluffymunchkins

Sorry i think i've gone all Soppy on you, but i hope i can convince you that if you love them they will return it in there own way

If you can't be soppy about small fluffy cuties what can you be soppy at?! That was lovely and thank you very much for your reply.

I'm pretty quick but I'm not sure about ninja reactions, so I might start my training now just in case I do decide on robos.

Thanks!

Ki xx

[Teddy]

Hugo is the softest, sillyest hammie ever and loves nothing more than to potter onto your hand for treats and a little clean. He is very fast though and sometimes just keeps on walking and walking and walking ... You cant really cuddle him for this reason but he is beautiful to watch and its just magical when he lets you stroke him while he eats his seeds. I think, sometimes if your lucky, robos can be the sweetest, softest hammies .... just depends which one you get.

[kiki & the bear]

Merry Chrismas Teddy and thanks for your repky. Aww Hugo does look like lovely little guy. I actually think he might have been the one to start my robo fascination from your post 'Hugo - on the mend'. Wish me luck as I normally end up with crazy hammies! lol

[Teddy]

Merry Christmas to you too and everyone else, hope you all had a great day. Good luck finding a robo ... no matter what I'm sure you'll give him a lovely home!

[Barbie]

We had a robo boy before, and I loved it. Snert was rather tame, he took food from us and even came on to my hand to nibble his treats. Since he was easy to catch due to that, he was allowed half an hour in the bathroom (no nooks & crannies to hide in) twice a week.
Otherwise, robos are more for watching than for cuddles, and they need lots of space and love to dig & sand bathe. So I'd always recommend tanks for them as big as possible, Snert had a tank (39 gal.) and I'd say that was still too small.