Male/female confusion

[kiania]

I currently have two tanks (same length, one is 92x46x50 cm (LxWxH), the other is 91.5x40.5x33 cm) - using the larger of the two in the hope of a colony, other is going in the loft but with be there to seperate. Also got an empty ZZ2 that I'm sure the hog won't mind her downstairs pen being re-purposed as emergency accomodation (if my OH isn't around to help get the glass tank out of the loft). So with 3 tanks, 2 wheels (rapidly turning into 3 or 4 - I have managed to agree to buy another 6.5" SS to help the hog rescue), 2 houses (so far), and with one food bottle (and another to be bought as back-up before Hamster Day) - I should be prepared for any fights.

I'd rather try for a colony (or rather a pair) first - as a social species (generally), I'd feel mean just getting one since I can have the option of a pair.

Think I'm now hoping for boys from the same litter (if no two boys available, I put same-litter as preferable over sex - on the assumption this will help peaceful relations). I shall keep my fingers crossed for happy community-living hamsters - but I have read, and back-up plans are in place

[Hamtastic]

In that case, try to get even numbers of robos, i.e. 2 or 4, so there is some balance. An odd number can single out one submissive victimized hamster and bond a pair.

[kiania]

Oh, definitely. I'm on a mission for two. Names have been carefully selected after discussion with the OH, who says I'm not allowed to keep with my historical people myths, and have to go more into the 'robotics' side of robos.

Bodhi's full name is Boadicea, because Boadicea supposedly (read: historically speaking, there is zero evidence for) had scythe blades attached to the wheels of her chariot - and equally ouchie, hedgehogs are supposedly spikey - Bodhi is most definitely not - softer than a wire-coated dachshund, she is.

I have put my foot down (so far) on calling hams Term and Nator for instance. OH has tried Sonny and Viki (I, Robot fame), and nearly had me convinced with Isaac and Asimov. But all that is for when they arrive (one must have some secrets!).

But yes, I read that odd numbers are problematic because of the singling-out of one, and that colonies may still pair off, but if they have an even number, then at least they have one other to play with.
Think I'm going for two - just for practical reasons. If I got four, and they managed to hate each other, I couldn't house four individual hams - there are just more chances for seperation, I would think. Perhaps if all goes swimmingly for the 3(ish) years that they are with me, I might try a larger (read: 4 robos) colony next time, when I have more practical experience (since I don't count two syrians (back when they were called golden) and two chinese (rescues from a family who used to hide them in a closet whenever their dad came home - he was away for 3 months at a time, then came home for a few days, then back off again normally, then he retired - hams can't live in a closet forever, so they were smuggled out to live with me instead ).

Would I be correct in thinking the only robo breeders are Tammy at Oak Farm, and Robert at Wessex Hamstery? Or are there others? Kent, with Surrey/Hampshire/Berkshire is my easy-to-get-to range Thought it'd be worth asking, in case you know of a wonderful breeder that is less than a 3 and a half hour one-way trip. As I said, I don't mind travelling, but 3.5 hours in a box can't be fun for the robos

[Hamtastic]

You could always carry them in a small cage or bin with a deep layer of bedding, some food, bits of cucumber for moisture, and a loo roll or two Shouldn't be too bad!

[kiania]

If those in the 'know' don't think it'd be an issue, then I wouldn't have to much of an issue. Is it worth seperating for travel? Or (in the nicest possible way) would the 'stress' help them bond for huddly comfort?

I've got this carrier (£5 note and $1 notes to show sizes for both UK and US folks - I couldn't find any Euros ), which is Bodhi's (she's 390g, and covers my palm, although I have small hands, and fits easily in here plus bedding - for comparrison as well). Which is 33x23x23 cm (13x9x9 inches). The smaller one is 25.4x20x20 cm (10x8x8 inches).



I'd have to buy the hams a carrier (or two carriers if they should be seperated), for the purpose of traveling, and vets visits, as obviously they can't share with the hog for fear of being skewered, but size-wise, which would you think? Would this size suit, or should I go for the smaller one to offer a more compact space? I'm worried about them sliding around - hog is wrapped in a pouch with a blanket on top, although she sheds it all sometimes, but at least it is padded, and she doesn't slide. Robos, I can see sliding across and going up the sides when going around corners...although that may be the comedian in my mind suggesting that it'd turn into a slip'n'slide for them

[kyrilliondaemon]

We keep our russian group together for travelling (and yes two makes more sense if new to hamsters), and I'd do the same if we owned a group/pair of robos. We just figure they're normally together, so we didn't want to risk stressing them more by splitting them before travelling. Others might say differently though.

Our lot tend to just snuggle up together and fall asleep, but even in a relatively small carry case theres still space for them to sleep apart if they want to.
We also give them as many woodshavings as we can (plus some bedding), and find they stay in place quite well with all of our hamsters (robo, russian and syrian).
We also make sure they all have cucumber for moisture

I'd usually go for the bigger the better even for travelling, but it all depends on whats practical too. Our group share a case much smaller than I'd like, but they're perfectly fine together travelling 2.5 hours to my parents (and recently considerably longer when we had a long unexpected delay on the way). Its the safest way to keep them secure in the car when all hamsters are travelling, but they do have a travel-cage which is much bigger if we ever only need to take the four of them somewhere.

For breeders, there might be a Mick somewhere but I can't for the life of me remember where I'm afraid

[kiania]

If that carrier is a suitable size, then I'll get another one and tag that up (the thing off the side has two dog tags that say what is in it, name, mine and my OH's phone numbers, and what temps to keep it at - easy enough to buy a similar one for the robos, but change the temps thing to "OMG, we are small and fast, BEWARE OPENING!" ) But that size straps into a seat nicely, and I can buy another at the same time I get my food sorted.

Can toss in substrate, bedding, and cucumber (shame they aren't here now - I've managed to buy 3 (3 too many, that is) cucumbers this week somehow - I blame work!).

Think they are liable to get bin-caged for holidays - OH cracked the lid of one of my new RUBs, so might convince him to buy me a brand new one, and repurpose the de-lidded one - rather than his current plan, which is to 'fix' it. It is plenty big enough for houses, wheels, necessities, and toys for over-nights.

I've heard of a Mick (Essex, I think - Mick Birch is it?), but can't seem to find a website, either on here, or via google. So a little stumped.

[kyrilliondaemon]

I'd use it, but it might be best to wait for others to confirm it if that'd be ok?

Well done on the extra cucumbers lol

And bin cages work, our syrian loves hers
We have a policy for travelling - either it can be a day trip or its enough nights to be worth taking the hamsters. And they all get big enough cages for travelling too (I take the russians entire thing along lol).

And yeah, I think its Mick Birch, but I haven't really checked much about him. I can't even guarantee he still breeds, but he does/did use this forum so I'm sure someone can help out.

[kiania]

We feel guilty about going for more than a couple of days - Christmas was fairly bad. Bodhi's mobile-home is a ZZ2 (5.5 square feet), her cage is 18 square feet - it feels really cruel putting her into the tiny weenie ZZ2 - yet that cage is the recommended cage in the UK (4 square feet is the min for a hog). But after you get the 12+" wheel, the house, the four bowls, the tunnel, and a few jingly ball-toys, there is about a hog sized space for the hog to sit in. Miserable

Same goes for the robos - I'm aiming for the largest possible cage before it gets so large that it causes territoriality. The RUB is 40.5x36.5 area, so shouldn't be too traumatic considering that it is roughly twice the size of the cages they are kept in in P@Hs up and down the country. Not ideal, but a good, practical size for traveling.

I've seen a few "Looking for robo breeder" threads - I feel somewhat hesitant on making yet another one, when there seems to be nobody answering them (at least, not successfully) Might try PMing though

[Pompompoms]

I'm in Hampshire Kiana, and my last breeding program was done with Rob from Wessex hams (My Lilly is a Wessex ham who originally came for a visit, but is a permenant resident now having had two litters with my Whizzbit). Rob is about 45 minutes from me. I am in Hampshire, If you are thinking about getting your robos from Rob I would be happy to collect them for you as someone nearer. it would also give me a perfect excuse to visit some of my babies . I am also very excited to own 50% of the genetic line of whites having started the line with Whizzbit. There are none as yet, as Minxie and Claude won't start breeding till the spring. Please feel free to message me if it would be useful to you.

As for pairs, it really is luck. My girls never fight, one of my pairs of boys never fight either, and my other pair of boys are currently in time out, but I am actually 90% confident the reintroduction is going to be successful. My first pair of boys however were separated for life as I had one determinedly single little man!