Thinking about robos

September · 09-20-2013, 01:57 AM

Not for awhile, since I'm getting the rats this week. In fact probably not until January/February. But for a few weeks now I've been reading up on key points about robos, talking to robo people, helping my stepdad draw up plans for a new aquarium lid & shelf, (old lid broke in storage) and torturing myself clicking through all the fabulous picture threads

But everything I read and researched was about a single, so now I have some questions on pairs.

Originally, I was dead set on getting a single robo, because I didn't like the idea of having to put one in a smaller cage if they fought (no way I can squeeze in another 40gb with that giant rat cage in my room lol.) But if I did go with a pair, would it be alright to put one in a 20L in the event of a fight, or would it be too stressful to downgrade?

Also on the pair thing, I know to get two wheels, two water bottles, scatter feed, and leave out any shelving or platforms. Is there anything else I could do to prevent violence?

And, if there's anything else relevant about pairs, I'd love to hear it

I know this thread is extremely premature

but my stepdad and I were going to go ahead and start building some things for the rats this week, so I was going to go ahead and put together platforms and such for the aquarium while we were at it, but if I did decide on a pair, it'd be pointless to build levels. So just wondering.

evel_lin · 09-20-2013, 02:04 AM

I don't think the thread is premature at all, I'd much rather see someone researching a new pet rather than impulse buying

Scampi16 · 09-20-2013, 02:59 AM

All the things you mentioned are the main points of keeping a pair happy (as much as you can), just make sure there are no places one can trap another and toys need more than one entrance / exit. You can never guarentee that a pait won't fall out, my robo's still live happily together and i hope that will continue (they are approx 11 months old & I have had them 7 months). I would say give them additional toys one at a time (logs tubes etc, not one wheel at a time) to see if they cause problems or not. I can't coment on a 20 gallon tank as i have never had tanks so I am unsre on the size (how big is the tank you are going to put them in (length, width & height) if it is big and there is a possibility of putting a divider in the middle if they fell out, or if you could fit a cage such as a zoozone 1 in your room if they were to fall out? How big is smaller tank (length, width & height)?

September · 09-20-2013, 03:11 AM

The dimensions of the 20 gallon long are 30"l x 12"w x 12"h and the dimensions of the 40 gallon breeder are 36"l x 18"w x 16"h. (outside dimensions, inside dimensions would probably be half an inch smaller on width and length.)

Scampi16 · 09-20-2013, 03:15 AM

If that is in inches as I believe you have indicated they are both decent sized enclosures so splitting them up and one ging in smaller one should be fine, or possible devider in bigger one, but puitting one in other tank would give both more room if it came to it (hopefully they will get on).

September · 09-20-2013, 03:42 AM

Yes, it's inches

racinghamster · 09-21-2013, 10:29 AM

Roborovskis are very hyper, manic little hamsters and it`s no surprise that they tend to have scraps and fall outs. The main question you need to ask yourself is, do I have the space for another tank if I need to separate? If the answer is yes, then a pair is for you. If the answer is maybe not, or I`m not keen, then I would go for a single robo and enjoy him or her for who they are and give one a nice home.

Your large tank would be the best option for a pair, but the 30" inch long tank would be equally as good for a single robo. Both are fairly roomy so you have no worries there.

Rats can take up a good bit of space also though, so I would put the robo plans on hold until you have your rats for a few months and see how you feel then about time, space and dealing with both? Robos are really low maintenance anyway, but they still require attention even if the robo is never handled. Many are not because of their speed, so taming one can take a long time and some just don`t want to be chased around.

I`m on my fourth robo now. All rescues.

Each and every one has been his own character, but all have never wanted handling. x

September · 09-21-2013, 01:10 PM

I've definitely got them on hold till I see how the rats are doing and how I do with the rats, I'm getting them on Sunday so I've given myself nearly 6 months before I'll bring home any robos, whether I go with one or two

And I went to Nashville last night and got the rats a cage off CL (big enough for 6 rats if 'space is used wisely' so my three won't need an upgrade any time soon lol) I've got it set up in my room, and I could squeeze in a 20L in case of a fight. It would be the last cage I could squeeze in, but I could fit it in there

If I could find a breeder, I'd definitely go with a pair! The ones from the pet store all look the same, I'd never be able to tell them apart O.o

racinghamster · 09-22-2013, 12:27 AM

I`ll bet your all excited at the prospect of your ratties arriving!

Actually, I prefer the `normal` agouti roborovskis with the mad eyebrows! You know they are proper robos and not genetically changed to get a different coat colour. Nothing wrong with that but I prefer the original animal than these newer additions. I`m the same with Chinese hamsters. I prefer the normal coat to the dom spot.

September · 09-22-2013, 01:10 AM

I'm soo excited

I've been preparing for almost three months for these rats, it almost doesn't feel 'real' that I get to pick them up in just one week

I prefer the ones with eyebrows too! I don't have an educated reason, I just think their cuter lol. But if I did get a pair I would want them to look drastically different so I wouldn't get them confused, so I'd know each ones personality without having to stare at them for 10 minutes to figure out who's who