Male vs Female when it comes to smell?

PositiveParsley · 09-06-2016, 11:21 AM

Hello!

I am thinking about getting a roborovski hamster but I was just wondering if anyone has noticed a difference between the genders in terms of smell?
The reason I ask is because I adopted a trio of male Russian hamsters a couple of years ago and within hours of bringing them home my bedroom began to smell - I got used to it after a few weeks but the rest of my family used to moan whenever they came into my room.
I realize that each hamster is different so it is hard to generalize but I am interested in hearing others experiences.

Thank you

cypher · 09-06-2016, 09:41 PM

No idea about robos but the I've had five Russians & the only one with any smell was a girl!

MeganAndMisty · 09-07-2016, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PositiveParsley

Hello!

I am thinking about getting a roborovski hamster but I was just wondering if anyone has noticed a difference between the genders in terms of smell?
The reason I ask is because I adopted a trio of male Russian hamsters a couple of years ago and within hours of bringing them home my bedroom began to smell - I got used to it after a few weeks but the rest of my family used to moan whenever they came into my room.
I realize that each hamster is different so it is hard to generalize but I am interested in hearing others experiences.

Thank you

Hello! I have a female robo called Misty and she doesn't smell at all. She pees and poops on her sand though so I clean it ever couple of days. My Syrian on the other hand stinks!

I've never noticed a smell coming from her cage even when we clean it out. Probably because her pees are so small.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 09-07-2016, 08:53 AM

With male robos, they scent mark a lot. Hopping Hammy had Gingersnap, who really, really smelled.

I have 2 females who don't smell at all. I had one male robo & he was stinky. I'll only get female robos. The male may have been stinky because a female robo was right next to him.

Some males may not smell at all so it depends on the animal.

PositiveParsley · 09-07-2016, 02:00 PM

Hi again!

Cypher - that's interesting! Do your Russians live in pairs/groups? I wonder if the smell from mine was more prominent because they lived together and were more keen to scent mark their territory?

MeganAndMisty - That's handy that Misty uses the sand as a potty! I have provided a sandbath so hopefully the new arrival will follow Misty's example

Cinnamon Bear - I remembering watching a video by Hopping Hammy where she mentioned Gingersnap's scent which first made me think that perhaps a female would be better. I suppose that housing a male and female close together could lead to more scent as they try to attract a mate?

So having read your replies I was fully intending to go for a female robo...
However, when I got to pets at home they only had a male roborovski called Bobby available for adoption - I was going to wait until I could find a female but when the shop assistant woke him up he was just too adorable to leave behind! He is roughly a year old (he was brought in by his previous owner when he was 10 months old and he has been in the store for 2 months.) I guess I will have to wait and see whether my room begins to smell, even if it does I doubt I'll get many complaints from my family once they see the culprit - he's just too cute

**Cinnamon Bear** · 09-07-2016, 04:26 PM

That's great for rescuing & adopting him. Welcome to Bobby! No smelling mercies to you!

MeganAndMisty · 09-08-2016, 02:29 AM

Aw that's so nice! I have a cat called Bobby he has 3 legs haha!

velma · 09-08-2016, 02:35 AM

Aw, hurray for Bobby

I've had two male robos (but no females to compare them to) and I can't say j ever noticed them smelling. Maybe Hector slightly when he was old but that was due to kidneys not to marking. I have noticed my new male Syrian smells a bit more "musty" than my female but I think that's because he's been heavily marking all his new environment and to be honest, it's only when I've got my head in the tank I can smell it so it's nothing noticable.

cypher · 09-08-2016, 02:46 AM

Aww! Well done for giving Bobby the home he deserves

Look forward to hearing more about him, he probably won't smell!

My Russians have all been kept separately but all in the same room (never more than three at once) I think my female just had a bit more of a not really unpleasant aroma

when she was in heat but the males never really smell at all.
I only find my Chinese smell a bit sometimes but it's just their wheels which they love to pee in & I think they compete for the whifffiest wheel