Hi

SmolHam · 08-06-2016, 06:55 AM

Exactly a week ago I went to p@h to get some supplies for the syrian I'm looking after over the summer (he doesn't have a name and calling him Hammy just stuck). After half an hour of browsing I decided to get my own so I bought a new Roborovski home with me and she's called Cookie.

I've browsed on here for a while now and will be looking for advice especially about Robos, I'm a beginner hamster owner and I know Robo's aren't the best starter hams, but I'm really good with animals and pick up facts and information quite quickly so hope I'll get some help

AmityvilleHams · 08-06-2016, 07:16 AM

My personal opinion is that starter pet in general is a very irrelevant term

It is always better to go for the pet that you know you are compatible with or prefer,rather than one that seems easier to care for but isn't truly right for you as an individual or that you don't actually like.

A really good tip I can give is that robos in general aren't fond of open spaces but can and most often will use larger cages even those that are 100 cm x 50 cm and above if they're set up in an appropriate way for their behavior.

cypher · 08-06-2016, 07:22 AM

Hi & welcome to the forum

Congrats on your little robo, all hams are different, not just the species but their own individual characters so I don't think there is a best starter ham really it's more about what feels right for you.
Lots of members have robos so I'm sure you'll get plenty of help if you need it.

SKB_Hamsters · 08-06-2016, 08:17 AM

Hello and Welcome to Hamster Central. Congratulations on your Robo, Cookie, looking forward to hearing more about her. There is a lot of good hamster care information on the forum and you will be able you get plenty of help for any questions and queries you have.

Thin Lizzy · 08-06-2016, 10:37 AM

Hi and welcome! Congratulations on your robo Cookie, looking forward to pics once she's settled in.
Cypher is the Queen of Knowledge when it comes to dwarf hams.
This syrian hammy you're looking after over the summer - why wasn't he given a name by the owner?

Pebbles82 · 08-06-2016, 11:25 AM

Hello and welcome

I am sure you will enjoy having a Robo. There are a few Robo owners on here who can give you lots of tips I expect. I think the main thing is give your Robo lots of substrate in the base of the cage so he/she can do some tunneling, a nice dark house that is big enough to build a nest in, a wheel, and lots of hidey places, tunnels and tubes

You could also look at youtube videos about Robos and other peoples' set ups. Avoiding height issues is quite important as they are so tiny and could get injured if they fall from a height. Do you have a cage/tank yet?

SmolHam · 08-07-2016, 04:00 PM

Thanks for all the welcome messages

She's been settling in really well and hasn't actually been hiding much! Although she sleeps an awful lot (perhaps hiding), she only comes out after midnight and goes back to sleep at 9am which is kinda sad as I don't want to turn into a nocturnal creature myself ^^"

At first she nipped me quite a bit every time I tried taming her but today she ran on my hand and up my forearms! I won't handle her too much but it's good to know she's not going to be a hostile one

As for the syrian, I'm not really sure why he hasn't got a name, I asked but didn't get a clear answer

cypher · 08-08-2016, 02:40 AM

Sounds as though you're making good progress with taming & bonding now

Her hours might get a bit more sociable as she settles more, you can try waking them earlier but do it gently, rustling the bedding or quietly shaking a food bag or just placing some tasty treats that smell nice near the house are all things that can work with some hams.

Robos do have a bit of a reputation for being hams to watch rather than handle but some enjoy interaction as much as other species so if she's happy to be on your hands then I would continue handling her, she'll let you know if she's had enough, go slowly but steadily & she should do fine.

velma · 08-08-2016, 03:14 AM

Welcome to HC! I love robos - I call them furry goldfish. Such good fun to watch and if you're lucky, which it sounds like you have been, you get the bold one who's a bit more adventurous. I found with Hector, my previous robo, it was good to get a plastic storage tub for a playpen, put a couple of toys in and a handful of his substrate (to give it a familiar scent) and have taming sessions with him in there. If they fling themselves off your hand they're only a few inches from the base and they're also safely contained.
They like plenty of cover in their cages and sometimes a smaller cage (not tiny just on the smaller side of things) can help with taming to start with rather than a humungous cage that they might find a bit over whelming (some hams prefer a smaller cage long term but you'll get to know the personality of your wee robo and if he seems content, to know what you'll want to do with his setup).
Looking forward to learning more about Cookie