Robo checklist & food types?

[kiania]

So robos are penciled into my calendar for early next year (after the christmas rush) - but we are trying to get to the show at the weekend to be nosy (and see cute hamsters), so it reminded me to see if anyone would mind casting an eye over my checklist to see if I'm missing anything, or whether I've got something I shouldn't? For reference, it is for two robos

The list goes thusly!

Imac Bingo cage
1 x flying saucer wheel
2 x 5.5" upright wheels
Plastic igloo style home (or possibly wooden is better? I like plastic for cleaning though)
Woodlands Willow Teepee home
Chinchilla sand & bowl to put it in for dust bathing
Water bottle (would this be appropriate: Small Animal Sippy Bottle by Ferplast | Pets at Home 100ml size? Or should I go bigger?)
Food bowl
Megazorb (or carefresh - might use carefresh until I clear the bales of finacard from the backroom to make storage space for the megazorb!)
J-cloth or tea bag material style nesting material
Cardboard tubes
Wooden tubes (saw a woodlands one with lots of holes in it today)
Carrier (is there any recommended? I have this one for my APH: Small Animal Carrier Medium: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home but would this be too big at 13"x9"x9"?)

So far, I'm estimating £~120 to set up - does this sound reasonable? It includes £20 for assorted toys, which I haven't done much research into.

Last question is dry food. I live opposite a Pets at Home, so that is the information I have - they do the Supa Hamster Dwarf Hamster Harvest (Burgess), and their own Hamster Muesli. Would either of these be suitable? Is there something people recommend more? I'm happy to order food online, but like I said, these are the two I've encountered so far in my musings.

Any help, suggestions, or being pointed in another direction...all welcomed very much!

Thanks

[MzWiz0915]

Sounds like you've got a good start up list!

My only thought to add is I personally prefer houses made from wood or other chewable material, because I don't like the idea of my hams nibbling off bits of plastic igloos. They're so tiny, who knows how much it would take to effect their health? Then again, I'm probably concerned over nothing, but I figure better safe than sorry...I wouldn't let a child eat plastic either! lol, my Hams are my children

That being said, Pica has a green plastic igloo Matt bought for her when I separated her from her sister, she doesn't nest in it but she does play with and climb it and I haven't noticed a problem with it. I have not had a problem with wooden houses, none of my hams have really peed on them or anything, so they've lasted long, and they wear their nails and teeth down playing with them. I have had to throw away other wood items though.

I feed Kaytee brand Pro-Health with Omega-3 to my hams, they enjoy this mix and it's recommended by my vet. I have no complaints with it, but it does have added sweeteners, so it won't be suitable for all hams. I do give a bit of extra protein in treats: nuts, seeds, meal worms. My Robo's don't like much else and wont eat egg, chicken or most fruits/veggies. But they love celery! (Pica doesn't get many fruits offered because I'm concerned with her weight and health) I gave them millet sprays and neither of them are all that interested in them...but perhaps try these, I've seen other hams love them

[MzWiz0915]

I recommend also getting a variety of chew toys: different shapes, textures, sizes and materials because it helps keep them entertained. You can alternate toys every few weeks or so to keep them interested.

I find if my robo's don't have a lot of variety in toys, they get bored and actually bury them like a dog buries a bone

Good luck with your Robo's! Remember patience and calmness are key to earning these little one's trust, and be warned they will are adorably sweet and funny when tame. They will easily win your heart!!

[kiania]

Wood house it is - I wasn't sure, but now I am

My APH has two big crates of toys - I am used to going with the theory of 'one of everything' for pets. Coming from a exotic animal welfare point of view, and the concept of offering choice to captive animals...plus the more widely held views on enrichment...well, the more options you have, you can rotate to stop boredom, and keep things spiced and interesting! I just do as I'd want if I got stuck in a cage.

What did you think re the water bottle? Is 100ml enough for a day/night for two? I'd imagine it is, but I'm used to animals that barely drink, so while hamsters might be 'rugged' as well, always best to check their requirements.

Kaytee, from a google search, appears to be an American company, and Amazon (the logical port of call for American products) doesn't seem to stock it. From what I've read, they only seem to do a syrian mix as well, which seems against what I've been told so far.

For treats, definitely going with millet (so easy to get!), and I breed mealworms for the hedgehog anyway. Any ideas about roaches? I've got plenty of baby ones that are too small for the hog that I could try a robo on. Can get crickets easily enough as well. I'll remember celery too!

[Erin Loves Dwarf Hamsters]

RE the water bottle Kiania I would suggest getting something other than the sippy, it can be difficult for the hamster to drink from (I used to have one) but the size if fine. I actually use 75ml mouse bottles for all of my dwarfs and they dont even drink half in a day. My 5 robos drink bearly a teaspoon of water a day because of being dessert animals so its difficult to get a bottle that is 'too small'

You seem well prepared for them already though! Sounds like you will be an amazing owner.

[kiania]

Ah, I liked the sippy because it stuck to the side of the tank. I assume there are crafty ways of getting the normally style bottles to hang in a plastic type tank?

As for prepared...no point unless I'm prepared. Doesn't help that I can't find a forums with stickies in it that suggest the best cage, best food, best water bottle, etc, for robos. I'm used to my hog forums, where each section (enrichment, diet, nutrition, health, etc etc) has a stickied FAQ how-to at the top. But yes, I waited 6 months for my hog, so I could get everything ready first, and so she could be bred especially - and in them, there is a very vivid difference between good breeders, not good breeders, and horrific farming breeders - rather put me into using good breeders!

My last worry is dry mix food, what do other people feed their robos?

[kiania]

For foods, the ones I've found so far are:

Beaphar XtraVital Dwarf Hamster (Advancing pet health, care and behaviour > pharmaceuticals > feed products > pet care products - Product - xtravital dwarf hamster 500g)
Beaphar Care+ Dwarf Hamster (Advancing pet health, care and behaviour > pharmaceuticals > feed products > pet care products - Product - care+ dwarf hamster 250g)
Burgess Supa Hamster Dwarf Hamster Harvest (Supa Hamster Dwarf Hamster Harvest 700g by Burgess | Pets at Home)
Pets at Home Hamster Muesli (Hamster Muesli by Pets at Home | Pets at Home)
Fruitti Hamster (Fruitti Hamster 12.5kg > Hamster Food > Hamsters > Small Animals > Main Section > UKPetSupplies)
Vitakraft Emotions Hamster Beauty (Hamster Beauty 600g - Love Pets)
Science - Selective Hamster (Science - Selective Hamster 350g - Love Pets)
Sunny Greens Hamsters (Sunny Greens Hamsters 800g - Love Pets)

I'm thinking the top three or four (Beaphar, Burgess and perhaps Pets at Home) might be the best for a robo? But that is purely based on the fact that the first three say Dwarf on the packaging, and the P@H one says Muesli

[mangoandmimi]

I wouldnt bother with the burgess dwarf hamster harvest tbh, its brown and yellow and has nothing but alfalpha in it.. i got it for the dwarfs once who turned their noses up to it thats my opinion anyway.
My robos are perfectly happy with their mix of harry hamster and the original burgess hamster harvest, plus with other bits mixed in, it all goes down very well

[Erin Loves Dwarf Hamsters]

I mix Harry Hamster and Pets at home Premium, then add in some kittikat dry food, porridge oats, pre-shelled monkeynuts and meal worms. Then twice a week they get a small cube of cheese each, some vegetables (Carrots/broccoli) and once a week a very small amount of lettuce. Lettuce can cause tummy problems if you give them too much.
I think a lot of people on her prefer to make their own mixes or mixtures of store bought

[kiania]

Okie kokey. So!

50% Harry Hamster
50% either Syrian-style Burgess Hamster Harvest OR Pets at Home premium (you mean this one, yes? Premium Hamster Muesli by Pets at Home | Pets at Home)

Then add porridge oats and peanuts.
I have live mealworms (which I assume are fine to feed a couple of times a week), should I add dried mealworms to the mix?

I can't seem to find anything called kittikat dry food - I found Kitekat, but that is only wet cat food. I have dry cat kibble for the hog and roaches anyway, so if it is just cat kibble, I can add that easily enough.

So that is daily, then bi-weekly they get a cube of cheese (how small is small?), and some vegetables. I read that the amount of veg should be less than the size of a UK penny? Do you chop the veg into tinsy pieces, or leave it in cubes?

And thanks for the help so far