Roborovski dwarf hamster as pet
Roborovski dwarf hamsters are smaller than Syrian hamsters, but they make excellent pets because they are gentle and love to be held. They must be tamed and require daily attention, just like any other hamster, as well as a large enclosure.
The Roborovski dwarf hamster, also known as the Desert dwarf hamster, is also known as the “Robbie or Robo” hamster.
This hamster was discovered in 1903 but was not widely known until the 1970s. This flightless hamster is not a stuffed animal, but rather a visual feast.
This dwarf hamster is constantly digging, climbing, and running. Cleaning this little whirlwind’s cage is a difficult task; just try to catch it!
This special hamster is not very common. When looking for a Roborovski dwarf hamster, you will find that they are difficult to locate in pet stores. Although some breeders specialize in these hamsters, supply and demand remain limited.
How do Roborovski hamsters look like?
This is the smallest species of domestic hamster. They measure 8 to 9 cm in length and weigh 20 to 30 grams.
They are dull yellow with a white belly and no back stripe.
They are extremely quick and agile. Beautiful animals to look at, but not so much to cuddle.
This hamster species originated in dry areas of Mongolia. They live in groups in the wild.
In captivity, they can be housed in small groups as long as your cage is large enough, you keep a close eye on them, and the group is well put together.
You can keep either a male-only or a female-only group. Quarrels can flare up more quickly in a group of males.
The back is golden brown, and the lower half of the body is white (throat, belly). It is afraid of humans and usually flees, making it difficult to tame: it is a rodent to observe rather than handle.
Because of its small size and speed, it is easy for it to escape and become lost in its home! As a result, it is not the best hamster for children, unless you teach them that they can look at it without touching it. It has a two to three-year life expectancy.
How to choose your Roborovski hamster?
The goal is to observe the behavior of Roborovski’s hamsters at the pet store at the end of the day.
If you don’t want to end up with a litter at home, keep the males and females well separated!
The hamster you adopt should be 4 to 6 weeks old and show all signs of good health, including a shiny, dry coat, open eyes that are not glued shut, and erect ears.
If you see a hamster with wet hindquarters (wet tail disease), go to a different pet store because the disease may have spread to others. To avoid selecting a sick hamster, you should research all of its diseases and symptoms.
Ask to put your hand in the cage: these hamsters are very shy, but after a while, some will come out to sniff it.
You will be able to choose the one that makes you fall in love the most from among these!
Are Roborovski dwarf hamsters the tamer?
Many people seek a hamster that is easy to tame or even naturally friendly with humans. With all species, it is important that you give the animal time; don’t spend all day holding a new animal; it needs to feel at ease in its new environment.
Slowly increase contact with a hamster and allow the animal to become accustomed to your scent.
Do you want a hamster that is simple to train? Then a golden hamster is most likely the best option.
Not only because of their personality, but also because gold hamsters are slightly larger than dwarf hamsters and thus easier to handle.
A Roborovski hamster, on the other hand, is a hamster species that, due to its personality and speed, is more difficult to tame.
Welcoming and taming your new Roborovski
After making your purchase, return home and gently place your hamster in its cage. Allow it to be alone for the first few days as it will be stressed by the change in environment.
If you disturb him, his acclimatization time may be extended. Change his water and food gradually, and get him used to seeing your hand in his cage.
Take care not to wake your hamster, as this could put him in a bad mood and add to his stress during the taming phase.
Allow him to come and feel your hand while you’re tending to the cage, but don’t try to grab him.
You can put him in a hamster park with his toys when it’s time to change the entire cage. He’ll be content to run around in a large area.
He should ideally be taken out every day and his cage thoroughly cleaned once a week. Sit on the floor if you can keep him from falling.
Housing a Roborovski dwarf hamster
So groups are possible, but the pairing must be done correctly, and the sexes must be determined.
A Roborovski requires a continuous floor space of at least 15050 cm; bigger is always better, and the more hamsters you have, the more space you require.
They are not true climbers, but they will use a staircase or a tube going up at an angle to climb, as well as horizontal bars.
They enjoy small wheels, but make sure the diameter is at least 17 cm, or they will walk with a hollow back, which can cause back problems.
A closed wheel is preferable to one with open bars, and hamster wadding or licks should never be purchased.
You can make them very happy with toilet rolls, strips of toilet paper, and kitchen rolls.
They also enjoy digging, so a thick layer of sawdust or, better yet, aubiose or hemparade (which is less dusty) is ideal. Personally, I prefer bedding made of paper.
A Roborovski hamster enjoys bathing in sand, and the best sand to use for this is chinchilla sand. Because of its sharp edges, shell sand should not be used. They, like any other hamster, appreciate a sleeping house, hideouts, and plenty of enrichment.
Feeding a Roborovski dwarf hamster
I always recommend making your own seed mix and identifying which foods your Roborovski prefers over others.
However, there are several hamster food packs available at the pet store. Make certain that you are purchasing hamster food and not guinea pig or general rodent food.
Because hamsters are not vegetarians, good food has a high protein content (15-18%) and contains animal protein.
A Roborovski dwarf hamster requires approximately two teaspoons of this hard (dry) food per day. He will ‘hoard’ some of this food and hide it elsewhere in the cage. You can simply leave it there until you change the cage; don’t deny a hamster its food.
Green food is given to the hamster on a daily basis, but only a leaf or a cube of fruit about the size of a corn kernel, and any leftovers are removed because they may rot.
Some suggestions (veggies they can have in moderation): chicory, broccoli, endive, bell bell pepper, carrot, apple, grape, banana, dandelion, chamomile, daisies. Variety is just fine.
There is a list of what they really should not have. This includes poisonous plants and human food with lots of sugar, salt and other additives (such as chocolate and chips, kiwi, citrus fruits, peanuts and potato are poisonous!
Remember to remove any fruit that hasn’t been eaten by the end of the day before it rots. Change the water once or twice a day.
You can give your hamster treats like mealworms, dog food (not cat food because it is frequently too salty), cooked egg whites, sunflower seeds, and so on.
We don’t know if dairy is digested properly by hamsters, so it’s best to avoid it.
Of course, a hamster requires water, so give it fresh water every day. They don’t drink much either, despite the fact that he appears to not take any of it.
Give no gnawing stones, lickstones, or gnawing blocks. These are available in pet stores, but hamsters do not require them and can overdose on salt or other minerals from them, resulting in death.
The hamster eats plenty of hard food to wear down his teeth. You could also give them some wood to chew on.
Breeding Roborovski dwarf hamsters
Nothing is cuter than a litter of young hamsters, but there is a lot involved (including knowledge of genetics) and it is best left to professionals.
The shelters are already overcrowded with hamsters, so we strongly advise against it. The gestation period is approximately 20 days, and a litter contains 4 – 9 young, with outliers of 12 or more possible.
The cubs are siblings who are born bald and blind. Do not touch the young for the first few days because your odor may cause the mother to cannibalize them.
At 3 weeks the young become sexually mature, so it is important to separate them in time.
Roborovski dwarf hamster health
Because this hamster’s digestive system is so fragile, prone to occlusions and diarrhea, you shouldn’t feed him too much fruit.
He is also susceptible to respiratory issues, so avoid dusty litters. Wood shavings should also be avoided because they can irritate your hamster’s paws.
Regularly check that no lumps appear on the belly, on the testicles, on the vulva: like all hamsters, Roborovskis are prone to tumors.
Examine the condition of the legs, which should not be scratched, the claws, and, if possible, the teeth to determine their length. If your hamster’s claws are excessively long, consider giving him more things to chew on and taking him to the vet to have them trimmed.
Finally, to keep your Roborovski’s hamster healthy, keep other animals (cats, dogs) away from its cage and allow it to sleep during the day.
Some good practices with Roborovski hamsters
If a group of only females or only males is formed, a Roborovski dwarf hamster can be kept with more than one adult.
The hamster must have enough space. Roborovski dwarf hamster needs a cage with a minimum 1000 square inches . Bigger is always better. And with more hamsters, you also need a bigger cage.
A Roborovski dwarf hamster’s wheel should be at least 17 cm in diameter and preferably closed (without bars).
You must be prepared to pay for good food, vet fees, and other expenses.
Conclusion
Roborovski hamsters are small, but they have the same needs as other hamsters, such as a large cage, daily maintenance, and a lot of attention and love.
I wouldn’t recommend them as a first hamster, but once tamed, they can be very gentle with children.
If you want more helpful advice on looking after your hamster, including tips on food, toys, accessories and accommodation, add a comment below to let us know!
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