General Information:
Roborovskis are a commonly kept dwarf hamster, often referred to as “robos” for short. They’re known for their small size (smallest in their genus) and fast-handling. They originate in central Asia around Mongolia, northern China and northern Russia. They are highly adapted to their environment and live in burrows up to 6ft deep.
In the wild, they’re an omnivorous and social hamster and exhibit crepuscular behaviour.
Their average lifespan is 2-3 years, but ages of up to 4 years have been reported.
Care:
Housing/Enrichment:
Roborovskis are widely considered to be a pet that is difficult to handle, this means their cage will be their main source of entertainment, so your cage must meet the minimum requirements – or larger.
Robos are extremely active rodents and love to burrow. A onverted 3ft tank can be ideal for them as it also allows us to provide our pet with plenty of substrates to display their natural behaviour.
We aren’t fans of using barred cages for robos, with them being so small, they can squeeze through very small gaps.
If a tank is not an option, we also enjoy using Duna Multis, Zoozones (you must mesh the lid) or converted bin cages. These cages still provide enough space, and you’re able to provide a decent layer of a substrate. Minimum cage dimensions should be approximately L 71cm x W 46cm.
We use cardboard bedding for respiratory issues for our hamsters, but other great options include fitch, hemp and carefresh.
Roborovskis absolutely love to run, so their exercise wheel is one of the most important toys to get right. Suitable wheels should be roughly 20cm in diameter with a solid floor. We use Trixie wheels as they’re more affordable than most pet shop wheels. Robos also love flying saucers.
You can use a variety of toys for your robo, including tubes, houses, hides, chew toys, dig boxes, sand baths, flower pots, and more.
Temperatures should be roughly 18°C-26°C and humidity around 40%.
There isn’t much information regarding torpor and hamsters, but we do know that temperature is not the sole reason a hamster will go into torpor. Some hamsters are more ‘prone’ to it than others. It’s also difficult to research, hamsters living in different parts of the the world will become more accustomed to the climate they’ve been raised and simultaneously will become less accustomed to others.
Socialising:
Roborovskis are social creatures and should ideally be kept in pairs, or more. If a pair or group of roborovskis are fighting, then you should separate them immediately to prevent potentially fatal injuries.
Roborovskis can be tamed, exactly how much an individual robo tames varies considerably. Consistency is key to taming. We’ve had Robos happy to sit in hands and others who'd absolutely scream the place down when held. Despite that, we’ve rarely been bitten by a Roborovski.
A lot of people prefer to offer their robos a playpen for out-of-the-cage playtimes. We use empty ball pits for our hamsters as it keeps them contained without the risk of squeezing through bars.
Diet:
Roborovski dwarf hamsters are omnivores, meaning they require both plant material and meat elements in their diet. In their natural environment, they’ve been found to eat a variety of seeds and insects.
In captivity, you can provide your dwarf hamster with a good quality hamster mix and healthy treats to keep your hamster well-nourished.
We personally mix our own hamster food.
Dwarf hamsters are predisposed to diabetes: characterized by above-normal glucose levels present in the blood which can result in severe secondary health problems. We encourage all dwarf hamster owners to look after their hamster’s wellbeing by ensuring they have a lower in sugar diet and are a healthy weight. You do not have to remove sugar altogether. Remember, sugar doesn’t directly cause diabetes.
Avoid garlic, onion, and citrus foods.
Please feel free to ask more questions!
Roborovskis are a commonly kept dwarf hamster, often referred to as “robos” for short. They’re known for their small size (smallest in their genus) and fast-handling. They originate in central Asia around Mongolia, northern China and northern Russia. They are highly adapted to their environment and live in burrows up to 6ft deep.
In the wild, they’re an omnivorous and social hamster and exhibit crepuscular behaviour.
Their average lifespan is 2-3 years, but ages of up to 4 years have been reported.
Care:
Housing/Enrichment:
Roborovskis are widely considered to be a pet that is difficult to handle, this means their cage will be their main source of entertainment, so your cage must meet the minimum requirements – or larger.
Robos are extremely active rodents and love to burrow. A onverted 3ft tank can be ideal for them as it also allows us to provide our pet with plenty of substrates to display their natural behaviour.
We aren’t fans of using barred cages for robos, with them being so small, they can squeeze through very small gaps.
If a tank is not an option, we also enjoy using Duna Multis, Zoozones (you must mesh the lid) or converted bin cages. These cages still provide enough space, and you’re able to provide a decent layer of a substrate. Minimum cage dimensions should be approximately L 71cm x W 46cm.
We use cardboard bedding for respiratory issues for our hamsters, but other great options include fitch, hemp and carefresh.
Roborovskis absolutely love to run, so their exercise wheel is one of the most important toys to get right. Suitable wheels should be roughly 20cm in diameter with a solid floor. We use Trixie wheels as they’re more affordable than most pet shop wheels. Robos also love flying saucers.
You can use a variety of toys for your robo, including tubes, houses, hides, chew toys, dig boxes, sand baths, flower pots, and more.
Temperatures should be roughly 18°C-26°C and humidity around 40%.
There isn’t much information regarding torpor and hamsters, but we do know that temperature is not the sole reason a hamster will go into torpor. Some hamsters are more ‘prone’ to it than others. It’s also difficult to research, hamsters living in different parts of the the world will become more accustomed to the climate they’ve been raised and simultaneously will become less accustomed to others.
Socialising:
Roborovskis are social creatures and should ideally be kept in pairs, or more. If a pair or group of roborovskis are fighting, then you should separate them immediately to prevent potentially fatal injuries.
Roborovskis can be tamed, exactly how much an individual robo tames varies considerably. Consistency is key to taming. We’ve had Robos happy to sit in hands and others who'd absolutely scream the place down when held. Despite that, we’ve rarely been bitten by a Roborovski.
A lot of people prefer to offer their robos a playpen for out-of-the-cage playtimes. We use empty ball pits for our hamsters as it keeps them contained without the risk of squeezing through bars.
Diet:
Roborovski dwarf hamsters are omnivores, meaning they require both plant material and meat elements in their diet. In their natural environment, they’ve been found to eat a variety of seeds and insects.
In captivity, you can provide your dwarf hamster with a good quality hamster mix and healthy treats to keep your hamster well-nourished.
We personally mix our own hamster food.
Dwarf hamsters are predisposed to diabetes: characterized by above-normal glucose levels present in the blood which can result in severe secondary health problems. We encourage all dwarf hamster owners to look after their hamster’s wellbeing by ensuring they have a lower in sugar diet and are a healthy weight. You do not have to remove sugar altogether. Remember, sugar doesn’t directly cause diabetes.
Avoid garlic, onion, and citrus foods.
Please feel free to ask more questions!