Long-time lurker, finally signed up

Legoluce · 11-18-2015, 06:29 AM

Hi all,

I've often browsed this forum when searching for advice or care tips for hamsters, and finally signed up to post a question in the healthcare forum.

I've had 2 hamsters in recent years, Mochi who was a syrian and the first pet I'd had since childhood. I had him for 2.5 years until xmas 2014 when he passed away.

I now have Sweep, a robo hamster and the first robo I've ever owned. He's a nervous and anti social hamster (he will not run on his wheel if the light is on!) who is very cute and entertaining with his habits! I've had him for 2 years in January, and he is the reason I posted in the health forum.

See you on the boards, and thanks in advance for any replies I get

cypher · 11-18-2015, 08:05 AM

Hi & welcome to HC

Can't really add anything to what souffle has already said in your other thread but I have to say Sweep is a very cute little man!
I hope it's nothing too serious wrong with him.

Pygmypuff · 11-18-2015, 09:02 AM

Welcome to Hamster Central!

Agreeing with cypher that sweep is adorable!

StarlightSerenity · 11-18-2015, 09:35 AM

Welcome to HC!

LOTR fan by any chance? hehe!

Pebbles82 · 11-19-2015, 05:58 AM

Hello and welcome. Robos can be a bit less sociable I believe - although opinions vary! They certainly move fast! Environment can affect their behaviour though and an enriched environment can work wonders. I don't know what set up you have, but if he has a dark hide/house to sleep in and enough space and tubes and bridges and so on it's a good start. Deeper substrate means they can dig tunnels too which makes them happy! Can you handle him at all? I'm guessing he's hard to tame if you say he's antisocial. He should do well in a Kerry Terrarium, other glass tank or Zoozone or multi duna type cage, all of which you can put 15 to 20cm depth of substrate in. Sometimes putting a tube or tunnel over their house entrance makes it nice and dark inside too.

I know robos are very active, so the more floorspace you can give him the better - even a 4 foot tank or a detolf wouldn't be too big! The bigger the tank the more separate areas you can set up - a digging area, a sand area and so on.

I would look at his environment set up before thinking about any taming strategies. If he is less anxious and happier he will be easier to tame but they can be difficult to handle I believe. Very entertaining though!

Legoluce · 11-19-2015, 06:28 AM

Hi everyone, thanks for the warm welcome and the lovely compliments on Sweep

We went to the vet this morning and it appears he has some sort of skin growth, but the vet didn't think it was anything serious as it was not on an organ, it appears to be outside the body. Not really sure what that means, but I popped it all in my reply in the healthcare thread. Hopefully he's ok...

StarlightSerenity - yes I am!!

Serendipity7000 - Sweep will sit in my hand and eat treats from me, but it's picking him up that's always been my fear. I'm always afraid he'll get away from me because of his speed! I may try the bath technique sometime, I've always been more concerned about scaring him too much or him escaping, but seeing the vet just take control today inspired me to try more, although probably a bit late now... Some days he's confident enough to climb up and sit on my hand, other days he will skirt around me constantly while figuring out how to get the treat without coming too close

His cage is big in comparison to him, but it's not a tank as I don't have space for one, it's a plastic cage almost 2ft long with an upstairs level. I've tried to make it as entertaining as I can for him. He has a silent spinner, 2 beds (one on each level!) sand bath and I interchange the 'toys' such as wooden log/coconut/bridges etc regularly and give him lots of substrate as he does like to dig. He just tends to prefer running around in the dark! We also have a ball for him to give him a run outside the cage too and a tub he roams around in when being cleaned.

I'm rambling now, sorry!

cypher · 11-19-2015, 06:45 AM

He does sound sweet! Sitting in your hand & taking treats is more social than many robos, it sounds as though he's happy with life the way it is so at almost two I really wouldn't worry about trying to change anything too much, if he's got used to things the way they are it may just stress him out a bit.
I can understand you're fear about picking him up, they are so fast & tiny but I wouldn't worry about doing it unless you have to.

Thin Lizzy · 11-19-2015, 08:55 AM

Hello and Welcome to HC.