how do i support my ....troubled roborovski?

[spookymansions]

I bought stabby from a local pet store, i know thats not great but he seemed really in need of a good home and my emotions got the best of me. He was put in with the mice because he wasn't getting along with the other robos and he killed one of them???? once i bought him and took him home i put him in his new enclosure and he just jumped up and down in one spot for TWO HOURS is that normal? hes camled down now or got it out of his system but im really worried about his traumas

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome. That is unbelievable that a pet store put him in with mice! Ok try not to worry. Once he is settled in an enclosure with the right kind of set up, he'll start to develop normal hamstery habits. They often do jump up at the side of an enclosure initially (Robos that is) to see if they escape. The main thing now is to ensure his set up is suitable and give him a couple of weeks to settle in. He may have some traumas but once he builds a bond and some trust with you I'm sure he'll be fine.

What enclosure do you have? Robos love to dig and burrow and will usually make an underground burrow so they need plenty of depth of bedding. My last robo also used a multiroom house - and a corner litter tray inside it - he was very neat and tidy

So - large enough enclosure, plenty of depth of bedding, but also lots of clutter/hidey places at floor level as they don't like feeling too exposed. They are lovely - both my Robos would come out during the day sometimes and be entertaining to watch in the evening. Safety is another aspect as they are so tiny and can fall and hurt themselves, so no tall levels.

 

[spookymansions]

ok thanks for the info. I just got him yesterday and today i'm moving him into a 110 qt bin cage, i measured it and it has over 450 square inches of floor space so its probably ok right? ive already noticed him digging a lot so yeah i'll make sure to give him a lot of bedding. he is really squirmy, whats the best way to move him to his new enclosure?

 

[Maz]

It's a little on the small side Robos are really active. 160 or 200 litre would be better. If moving him over, then don't clean anything. Keep all the old bedding and move that across and spread it on top of the new and try and keep things in a similar layout to before - eg house left, wheel back centre etc. So it's not too big a change and everything smells familiar. It'll all be fine for a couple of weeks without anything being cleaned. Robos pee very little. Then you'll need to give him a couple of weeks to settle in without changing or moving anything. Just keep talking to him through the cage so he gets used to you. The 110 will be ok for now.

 

[spookymansions]

oh, i want to make sure he's very happy. would a 40 gallon aquarium be a good amount of room?

 

[Maz]

A 40 gallon breeder is a good size yes . That's about 90cm x 45cm. A 40 gallon long tank isn't because it's too narrow.

 

[spookymansions]

I ended up going with the bin because I’m on a bit of a budget and it was over the minimum I saw online , I really hope he won’t be stressed

 

[Maz]

I'm sure he'll be fine for now. In the Uk, the recommended minimum cage size, from three welfare charities, is approximately 100cm x 50cm for all species of Hamster (it's on our home page . That's about 40" by 20". In the US the recommendation from the California Hamster Association is at least a 40 gallon tank size. It's many years since 450 square inches was considered a minimum in the US. It's usually more like 800 square inches, or 650 square inches absolute minimum.

He will be fine in the bin for now but I would upgrade to something bigger as soon as you can because Robos are just so fast and full of energy. 450 square inches is quite small.

 

[Daisy]

Hello,

Sorry to hear your hamster had a really bad start to life due to the pet shop! I expect he killed the mouse because he was afraid and didn't understand mouse behaviour, so it wasn't his fault. And now he's probably quite traumatised and needs some time to learn that he's safe with you. I would keep him the bin he's in, but make sure he has lots of hiding places. As a rule of thumb, because he's so nervous, I would try to make sure he's never more than 3-4 steps away from somewhere to hide. I wouldn't try to handle him for the time being. Just let him settle in, and once he's calmed down you can think about upgrading him and starting to interact with him.

 

[spookymansions]

ok he seems happy in the bin for now and i'll save up to get him something bigger, its confusing with so much incorrect info on the internet

 

[Maz]

It is confusing. It's partly why this forum was set up, to give researched information and information from verified sources

 

[spookymansions]

ok im glad i went here then

 

[Socks' Mum]

Hello,

Sorry to hear your hamster had a really bad start to life due to the pet shop! I expect he killed the mouse because he was afraid and didn't understand mouse behaviour, so it wasn't his fault. And now he's probably quite traumatised and needs some time to learn that he's safe with you. I would keep him the bin he's in, but make sure he has lots of hiding places. As a rule of thumb, because he's so nervous, I would try to make sure he's never more than 3-4 steps away from somewhere to hide. I wouldn't try to handle him for the time being. Just let him settle in, and once he's calmed down you can think about upgrading him and starting to interact with him.

He killed a fellow Robo and was stuck in with the mice.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Poor fellow, but luckily he has a good home now and he's doesn't have to worry about sharing it with anyone

 

[Maz]

He killed a fellow Robo and was stuck in with the mice.

Ah thank you - I must have mis-read that. That is sadly what happens when people leave robos or any dwarf hamsters in a cage together - especially if it's too small - they can fight to the death. I don't think he'll be traumatised particularly by having killed another robo - it will have been a natural instinct for him. He may well have been traumatised by being put in with mice. But I'm sure he'll be happy in his new home and new life and leave that behind him.