Hi. Need help sexing and possibly identifying dwarf species of two new hamsters

[Flailing]

Hi there. I've been over these forums trying to learn what I needed to in prep of getting a hamster but I didn't join until now. And while I hate to join and immediately start asking for help, I picked my username based off of how I'm doing right now as a new pet mom: flailing.

I have been itching to get a hamster for months now. I did the research and discovered the Robos suited my needs pretty perfectly. There is a pet store nearby (I know rescue is better but no local reuses had Robos that I could find). The store called when they got new Robos. They should all have been litter mates and the same sex so choosing didn't matter. Most were asleep and cuddled together and it felt wrong to disturb them. So I said I would just take the two that were awake and running about. The sales clerk wrangled them and got them in the carrier I brought and I was just so happy and excited beyond doing the checks that I read for a healthy hamster I didn't really process anything (other than guilt at separating them from the others and wondering if I should just get them all).
But then I got home and I realized only of my little furry wards has some features I hadn't read in association with Robos: nearly white all over, a bit big, and has a stripe down it's back. When it's standing next to my other little ward they don't necessarily look very similar. I tried to right it off and leave them alone so they could adjust to the change but as I watched them I got more and more concerned and after everything I've read saying your a fool to trust pet stores I got more worried and doubting myself more and more and then I feared "What if it's a boy and a girl" so I broke my own rule of leaving them alone and with as little trauma as possible wrangled them and tried to sex them only to make my doubts worse. So now I'm a flailing mess of doubt and worry. I just want to be a good pet parent but after all the research I did before hand I feel like I'm failing. This was my favorite of the websites I came across when researching so I headed over here, made an account, and now I have some pictures for you. They aren't the best. But they are what I have and I don't want to disturb them again to try to get better. If anyone could please confirm sex and whether both my little friends are indeed Robos I would appreciate it.

IMG_0242.jpg

IMG_0243.jpg

[evel_lin]

#1 is definitely a robo. I'm not sure about #2 actually, I'm sure someone more familiar with robos will come along soon but it looks more like a russian dwarf to me in those pictures. Can't help with sexing I'm afraid, I could probably guess but better someone more experienced answers

[linford27]

I'd say no.1 is a girl, no.2 possibly a boy.
And I don't think no.2 is a robo.
Hopefully you are keeping them seperate now?

[littlescruffies]

They could both be girls, but definitely different species. They need to be housed seperately.
#1 is a robo
#2 is probably a hybrid dwarf if its from a petstore

[Kirsty1987]

The face on the second one looks a little like a robo in one of the pics but i have not seen a robo of that colour/markings before I'm just as baffled as you lol hopefully someone can give you a definite answer as for sex the first one that is defiantly a robo looks like a female but i am unsure about the second hamster

[Sanctuary]

They both seem to be girls to be honest.

The first is a robo so all good on that front.

The second looks like a hybrid winter white x campbells.

[POLAR WHITES]

yes I also thinkthe second is a hybrid winter white cross campbell they are both very cute

[Kaztrekie]

Don't worry about failing your not
Pet stores are famous for getting sexes ,breeds etc wrong from what people have said then they are differant breeds so you need to seperate them as for the sex I have no idea .but they are both lovely hope they settle in soon let us know how they are doing.any names yet?

[Flailing]

I everyone. Thank you for getting back to me.
Firstly. No the are not separated yet. I simply don't have the supplies to house them separately and no means of getting to a shop to get them (I don't drive and it's not in walking distance and al the people who could give me rides are working). I could separate them within the cage but they are such hi energy I think they would be miserable and I only have one wheel right now so one would have to do without. I've arranged a lift to the store tomorrow so I can get supplies then, but I'm not so sure they need to be separated it they are the same sex. I know that you shouldn't house different hamster species together. So please don't kill me I'm just going off what I see. They haven't been fighting or posturing. They sleep curled up together. The size difference isn't too extreme and whenever I take one out of the cage the other comes to check on it when it's returned. I hate the idea of leaving any creature alone. That is why I got two in the first place (and was tempted to buy all the others). If it is really necessary I will of course separate them.

As for names they don't have any yet. I like to get to know a pets personality before naming them and I really wanted the sex issue cleared up first.

Also a bit of an update on them (which supports they more certainly are not litter mates). They have different sleep cycles. #1 my little robo fluff ball was up running and playing from 5pm-11pm and then at random times before and after. Where #2 my little white beauty was up from 4pm-6pm then slept clear through till 3am and then suddenly was very active up until 5am when I went to bed. (I'm an insomniac which is why I wanted pets that would be active at night not day). Also they are both already surprisingly tame. Wrangling them wasn't really much of a problem they readily sniffed my hand and were fine with they tube technique to get them into my carrier so I could get them by the scruff to try and sex them. Neither of them really like being picked up but that isn't really a surprise. What was a big surprise is they both seem really okay with pets. Well, #1 wasn't so much okay and just didn't care but two almost seemed to calm down and was much less upset about the second attempt to pick the little thing up. Her body language (from what I've read) and been unhappy but then it mellowed out and her ears when up and she got up on her hind legs to sniff at the fingers she could reach (if she is indeed a she), now when I stick my hand in the tank she comes right over to investigate.

Again thank you so much and I will do my best to keep you updated.

[Pompompoms]

Hello and welcome

You are not failing at all, you have unfortunately just not been very well advised by the pet store you got your lovely hams from.

You have two completely different species of hamster there, your first hamster is an Agouti Robo, and is a boy, as he is still young he doesn't have his scent gland yet, and his testicles aren't visible, they will develop within the next few weeks.

Your second hamster is a Russian hamster and is a girl. Robos never have a dorsal stripe, and as you have noticed she is very both shape and size wise very different. This difference will become more apparent as they grow as well.

It is important they are not housed together, hamsters of mixed species must never be housed together, it is dangerous for both hamsters. In my opinion you have a case with the information you have to ask for a discount or even a free cage for your other hamster as the pet shop really should know their species.

If not, there is a bargain cage thread on the forum with lots of cheap cages some of which will hopefully be near you, there is also the option of the bin cage which members here can help you with.

Again I must stress that this is unfortunate and not your fault, but it is imperative that these hamsters are separated.