Can't wait for Monday! (2nd May '16) - Page 2

Jasmine2016 · 05-01-2016, 01:45 AM

Just to point out the cage is not reachable by the dog, I wouldn't put any animal in danger.
I'll do some measuring today and see if there is any possibility of changing things around in my bedroom to get the cage in there, but I doubt that is a possibility, but I shall try.

I already have everything except some gnaw sticks which I will get tomorrow.

Kissa · 05-01-2016, 01:48 AM

Quote:

1. How deep should I make the bedding? I know they like to dig but is there such a thing as too much bedding?

Not in my experience

I lean towards putting as much as possible in any cage, it's always good to give them the option to dig if they want to and more substrate tends to mean you need to clean out less often too

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2. The cage is in the sitting room (can't go anywhere else sadly) so it's the busiest room though it is placed in the quietest area of the room, I also have a dog and so he is in the sitting room with me all day and he sleeps in there (though in a crate and is very quiet at night) Is there anything I can do to help make everything as stress free as possible? Everywhere I read says about quiet but while I plan to get the hamster then take the dog out for his walk to give the hamster some time to settle, obviously that'll only last for the time of the walk.

It's not ideal, but to be honest as long as you give the Robo time to settle in the cage before attempting to handle them, and your dog isn't able to knock the cage down or anything (by either not being alone in the room, or being in the crate if they are alone in the room), it should be fine. I find my Robos tend to be scared of a big thing moving suddenly, rather than what the big thing is in particular -- they couldn't care less about my cats looking in on them for example, but they would care if the cat suddenly appeared and startled them!

I've never had a hamster have an issue with the smell of cat, I've not owned a dog so I can't say for sure but I have friends who have hamsters and dogs, and again the hamsters seem to be fairly oblivious to the smell of dogs! I suspect hamsters don't recognise cats and dogs as predators that will eat them (but that is just a suspicion). When I had a hamster as a kid, he had great fun chasing the cats around in his ball terrorising them, the cats were terrified of the giant ball that moved itself around

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4. I've bought some JR Farm dwarf hamster mix, can I start her/him on that straight away or should I get some of the food she/he has been eating and do a gradual change over?

You could buy some of their old food, but I have never found it necessary when I've got any hamster. Sometimes I have done, if the hamster is from a breeder and they provide me with some of their food for a food transition, but not every breeder does that, and pet shops don't do it either! It's never been an issue for me though

Jasmine2016 · 05-01-2016, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kissa

Not in my experience

I lean towards putting as much as possible in any cage, it's always good to give them the option to dig if they want to and more substrate tends to mean you need to clean out less often too

It's not ideal, but to be honest as long as you give the Robo time to settle in the cage before attempting to handle them, and your dog isn't able to knock the cage down or anything (by either not being alone in the room, or being in the crate if they are alone in the room), it should be fine. I find my Robos tend to be scared of a big thing moving suddenly, rather than what the big thing is in particular -- they couldn't care less about my cats looking in on them for example, but they would care if the cat suddenly appeared and startled them!

I've never had a hamster have an issue with the smell of cat, I've not owned a dog so I can't say for sure but I have friends who have hamsters and dogs, and again the hamsters seem to be fairly oblivious to the smell of dogs! I suspect hamsters don't recognise cats and dogs as predators that will eat them (but that is just a suspicion). When I had a hamster as a kid, he had great fun chasing the cats around in his ball terrorising them, the cats were terrified of the giant ball that moved itself around

You could buy some of their old food, but I have never found it necessary when I've got any hamster. Sometimes I have done, if the hamster is from a breeder and they provide me with some of their food for a food transition, but not every breeder does that, and pet shops don't do it either! It's never been an issue for me though

Thank you

My dog is a small breed and can't get to the cage, also the cage is a heavy glass one and it takes two strong adults to move it when full so I doubt he'd be able to move it.
He never tried to get to the gerbils so I'm confident he'll ignore the hamster too.
I grew up with dogs, cats and hamsters and they all lived together happily, like you I don't think they realise dogs and cats are a danger.
Saying all that though if I intend to leave the dog in the sitting room alone, he'll go in his crate.

I probably won't worry about getting the same food then.

Sunset_Melody · 05-01-2016, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kissa

Not in my experience

I lean towards putting as much as possible in any cage, it's always good to give them the option to dig if they want to and more substrate tends to mean you need to clean out less often too

It's not ideal, but to be honest as long as you give the Robo time to settle in the cage before attempting to handle them, and your dog isn't able to knock the cage down or anything (by either not being alone in the room, or being in the crate if they are alone in the room), it should be fine. I find my Robos tend to be scared of a big thing moving suddenly, rather than what the big thing is in particular -- they couldn't care less about my cats looking in on them for example, but they would care if the cat suddenly appeared and startled them!

I've never had a hamster have an issue with the smell of cat, I've not owned a dog so I can't say for sure but I have friends who have hamsters and dogs, and again the hamsters seem to be fairly oblivious to the smell of dogs! I suspect hamsters don't recognise cats and dogs as predators that will eat them (but that is just a suspicion). When I had a hamster as a kid, he had great fun chasing the cats around in his ball terrorising them, the cats were terrified of the giant ball that moved itself around

You could buy some of their old food, but I have never found it necessary when I've got any hamster. Sometimes I have done, if the hamster is from a breeder and they provide me with some of their food for a food transition, but not every breeder does that, and pet shops don't do it either! It's never been an issue for me though

My hamsters were never particularly bothered by my cocker spaniel. I didn't let my jack russell near them though because he was so conflicted by his instinct to get them it wasn't fair whereas my cocker would stand there and watch these balls bash into his legs all dopey like. :P

flowerfairy · 05-01-2016, 03:10 AM

How exciting! A tank is a great cage for a roborovski. So easy to see them and lovely deep bedding possabilities.

I look forward to piccies and seeing how you set the cage up!

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-01-2016, 06:06 AM

I was mentioning Maddi, my robo that nips a little but this morning I put my hand in first with treat then a 2nd time w/o treats & she didn't nip today so she may grow out of it, she's only been here for a month & a few days. So maybe she won't be an exception after all I'm hoping.

Also, I just called Pet-Co & the flying saucers are $8.99

Jasmine2016 · 05-01-2016, 07:00 AM

I phoned the shop to make sure they have some robos in and they have two, the lady said they are white and silver.
Just got to hope that no one gets them both in the next 24 hours.

Thought of a name this afternoon ........ Marble.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-01-2016, 07:10 AM

I never heard of white & silver robos, they may be winter whites labeled incorrectly at the pet shop!

I'd go on-line to see photos before you go to the pet shop tomorrow.

The colors are agouti (sandy tan & white), white, pied, husky (sandy tan with a white face)

No white & silver robos!

cypher · 05-01-2016, 07:30 AM

I like the name Marble

Fingers crossed yours will still be there waiting for you!
I wouldn't worry too much about the "silver & white" sounds a bit like a fairly typically vague pet shop description to me.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-01-2016, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

I like the name Marble

Fingers crossed yours will still be there waiting for you!
I wouldn't worry too much about the "silver & white" sounds a bit like a fairly typically vague pet shop description to me.

The marble is the pied coloring. I've never heard of any other color patterns although I could of course be wrong.

She should be careful to know what she's buying 100% sure it's a robo as pet store employees have no idea sometimes

On another forum a few months ago a girl was sold 2 robos & they told her they were winter whites so be aware of this