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Old 04-07-2021, 03:36 PM   #1
candice clews
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: staffordshire,england
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Question Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Hi. I've owned many hamsters previously, but never a roborovski. Im considering becoming an owner to 1 or 2 soon and I have a few questions.
  • How often do 2 Robos live together well, if provided with the appropriate set up? eg 2 of everything, no levels, no tunnels etc.
  • Is the Hamster Heaven a suitable cage set up?
  • Is there a specific food mix most suited to roborovskis? (UK)
  • Do you have any extra advice or useful tips to know before hand?

I have two empty Hamster Heaven cages. I was considering a pair, with the 2nd cage on standby incase they don't get along well and need to be separated. Ive previously rescued and separated two pairs of Russian Dwarf hamsters and got a general idea of the gist of play fighting vs fighting (the beginning initial signs).

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!
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Old 04-07-2021, 05:47 PM   #2
Jrmarine42
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Hi Candace... I think the cage you're referring to is over 600 inches of floor space so it shouldn't be a problem. I got my boys together because they were together at the store and I knew nothing about hamsters when I bought them so I didn't want to split them up.
What I've discovered since getting them - well there has been A LOT I have learned, lol...but one of them is that they seem to get along great together until I clean the bin cage they're in... For some reason Milo always becomes really aggressive and territorial when the cage is cleaned... It's weird. He will actually hunt down Otis just to attack him...so they have separate bin cages now. I figured 854 square inches each should keep at least milo happy...
Otis gets lonely which goes against what everyone says about hamsters but I'm certain he would prefer to have Milo around then be alone.
I got a third hamster, Presley but she's a girl so she definitely gets her own place...
These are my first hamsters and I couldn't love them more. I highly recommend them where there are no small children or risk of being attacked by a cat or dog...
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Old 04-07-2021, 11:42 PM   #3
Dodo
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Hello,

From the various forums and facebook groups I’ve been consulting Robos are better by themselves. Even when no fighting is perceptible there often seems to be some quite sustained bullying, and once separated the submissive one becomes much more chilled. There may be exceptions of course, but I wouldn’t think it is worth risking. I’ve adopted a Robo last week, and they are absolutely fascinating. Many are very shy and will rarely be spotted, others not so much. Mine starts running like crazy in his cage when I come in the evening, pacing along the bars waiting for his dinner. And then starts searching for his food (I scatter feed him) everywhere. They’re also quite agile for hamsters, climbing and jumping, so it’s important that their environment is super safe in case they fall. I highly recommend them, they’re adorable, but try looking for a rescue. Because they are so small many people buy them at kids’ pets, which they definitely aren’t. They keep them in the tiniest cages with unsuitable wheels and get rid of them after a fee months. If you check pets4home or gumtree there may be adds close to you. Good luck and keep us posted if you get one!
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Old 04-08-2021, 01:39 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

We have a Robo living in a Hamster Heaven and he's happy in there. I removed all the plastic tubes, shelves and penthouse to create a more interesting and natural set up.
Just make sure that the door is always shut on the second bar and not the first.

Preloved hamsters is another site to check should you want to rehome one which i'd also recommend.

I have fostered a number of Robos from these sites and rehomed them to suitable forever homes. Often enough they are made homeless when people believe the advice of petshops and buy two, house them together and then they fight.

Keeping two in one cage is risky and frankly, i just can't see the point. Hamsters are solitary and territorial by nature so do better on their own. I'm not disputing that there are exeptions but the risk involved to find out is far too high in my opinion.

Robos can be reclusive but they are lovely and i woulldn't want to be without one.
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Old 04-10-2021, 03:56 AM   #5
candice clews
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Smile Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Thank you so much for the advice! I bought two roborovski hamsters on Thursday. They're both currently together in the Hamster Heaven. Two females. They seem to be getting along perfectly so far, no bickering or anything and they're sleeping, eating and playing on the wheel together so all looks good up to now! Ive kept everything equal. 2 bottles, 2 wheels, 2 food bowls, 2 hides, 2 bridges etc! No shelves, no tunnels, no penthouse. Im going to start the taming process in the next couple of days. Thanks again!

Meet Otter (left) and Otto (right)!

171550838_892859437950989_8751527954320889892_n.jpg
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Old 04-10-2021, 09:52 AM   #6
Dodo
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Hello,

Please keep a spare cage in case / for when your hamsters start fighting. Unfortunately it happens most of the time.
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Old 04-10-2021, 09:16 PM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

They look adorable. According to a Robo breeder, they are the one species of hamster who are good on groups or pairs and can do well. However probably 99% of the time they end up having to be separated especially when their hormones kick in. So keep an eye on things. You’ve thought the set up out to avoid then falling out so fingers crossed. Any sign of squabbling or one getting bigger than the other then best to separate.

When fully grown then the bar spacing should be ok but a small Robo could get stuck in 1cm bars - if they are silly enough to try and squeeze through them - but they grow to full size quickly .
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Old 04-11-2021, 05:58 AM   #8
Ria P
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Please let us know how you get on with taming your Robos and what kind of methods you use.

I never managed to get past a Robo taking a mealworm from my fingers or sitting on my hand long enough to eat some linseeds.
As soon as i lift my hand slightly, they run off. The other thing is that they don't want to come out of their habitats, unlike our Syrians and dwarfs, so attempts of out of cage taming isn't happening either.
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Old 04-15-2021, 02:44 AM   #9
candice clews
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodo View Post
Hello,

Please keep a spare cage in case / for when your hamsters start fighting. Unfortunately it happens most of the time.
Hi. Thanks. I have a second cage set up ready incase of a fall out.
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Old 04-15-2021, 02:49 AM   #10
candice clews
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Default Re: Roborovski first time owner (soon)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
They look adorable. According to a Robo breeder, they are the one species of hamster who are good on groups or pairs and can do well. However probably 99% of the time they end up having to be separated especially when their hormones kick in. So keep an eye on things. You’ve thought the set up out to avoid then falling out so fingers crossed. Any sign of squabbling or one getting bigger than the other then best to separate.

When fully grown then the bar spacing should be ok but a small Robo could get stuck in 1cm bars - if they are silly enough to try and squeeze through them - but they grow to full size quickly .
Thank you for the advice! No signs of squabbling or dominance yet. They eat, sleep and play together. Do you know the rough age when the hormones do kick in? They are sharing most things, but have 2 of each anyway.
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