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I think most people would agree that hand taming a Robo can be more difficult than taming other hamsters. Once they’re out of the cage and in a playpen or other secure area, it can be easier to start hand taming them. But sometimes that is the first hurdle - getting them out of the cage! Without stressing them out. I've had two robos (had one, currently got one). They are apparently the most frightened of the hamster species - which is not surprising as they are so tiny so probably have a greater sense of being prey. But as with most hamsters, it's about building trust and familiarity.
Neither of my robos would take food from your hand when in the cage - they run and hide. Our first robo had had a lot of stress before he came to me and would always run and hide in the most secure place possible (behind his wheel, flat against the bars). Once he was older and had been handled a few times he was semi tame but sadly didn't live much longer.
Our current Robo Pip wants to come out! Oh he really wants to come out - but then he doesn't, then he does, then he doesn't. I found a way to get him out easily without dismantling the cage. I tried a tube to walk in but he sees your hand coming and shoots out again. So I used this Ferplast pod thing with a tube on the end - it works really well. It lives in his cage partly under his ladder. The tube tempts him inside and I sometimes put treats in it. Then I can put my hand over the tube and lift the whole thing out. Because he's not fast enough to get to the end of the tube from the pod! He likes the pod anyway and goes in it quite often. So then I can just carry him to the playpen.
It's this thing - it's called a hamster lab and is intended to connect to ferplast cages with tubes. I'm not sure I'd like that idea but it's a very useful pod! It's a bit like a hamster ball (slightly bigger) but flat on the bottom and with the option to attach a tube. I have two sides capped off (it comes with the caps) and the front side has a right angle tube attached with the right angle bit pointing upwards. Also capped off at the top but not at the far end. I thought the right angle tube would be better than a straight one, and it is - because he can't resist investigating the bit that goes up before trying to come out of the end of the tube so it slows him down
You have to support it underneath when carrying it though, to ensure the pod and tube stay attached securely. I took the centre piece out as I was a bit concerned a little robo might try to untwist the top if he could reach! Or possibly even get his head stuck in the top ventilation holes. They are not as big as they look though. With the centre part removed it's just an open space. There is a bit of a ridgy bit on the base where the centre piece is supposed to attach, so I put a bit of hemp mat over that. Then put some bedding in it. You can see the ridgy bit on the photo.
There are various Ferplast tubes that attach, but this is the one I got
The tube attaches like a long tube with the right angle bit pointing upwards like a funnel. The end of the tube sits on his cork bark step near his wheel and he often goes in there. Which makes it very easy for me to lift him out and take him for some taming.
It was not a cheap solution and it's not a very glamorous thing to have in a hamster cage (although there is plenty of space for it) but I am happy with it because it allows for a simple way to get a robo out of the cage for taming sessions, without stressing him trying to pick him up and without having to remove half the cage contents to find him if he runs and hides.
It's his transporter Transports him from the cage to the Playpen. He actually went back inside it when it was in the playpen a couple of times - so it's also a familiar part of his cage that goes with him to the playpen.
Some people manage to get a Robo to walk into a mug. Not Pip. He did that once when I was doing some spot cleaning but avoided the mug after that. Strangely he hasn't avoided the pod after it being lifted out. I think he sees it as his because it lives in the cage - as opposed to a mug which appears in his cage (and he can run out of again too quickly).
In the playpen I have a box about 8 to 10" high - not that big - maybe about 14" long and 8" deep. With some bedding inside and bits of food. I leave the box on its side and Pip just walks in. Then I turn the box the right way up again. Once in there it's easier for me to gradually get him used to a hand gently scooping him from underneath, or being held for a few seconds. It's a bit like breaking through a barrier. Once they've been held it's not strange any more. And I could manage quite a few strokes while he was in the box although he wasn't wanting to sit still. He did manage to climb out of the box by climbing up the bedding! But he did seem more relaxed after being handled a little bit. Perhaps less fearful.
I will keep persevering with this. I read an article by a Roborovski breeder (which I can't currently find!) that says once you tame a robo they can actually be more tame than other species of hamster and less likely to run away or will just sit with you. That is something I would like to achieve!
I manage a bit of handling when our Robo Pip is out in the playpen. Pip is gradually getting used to it but I need to persevere.
I am always impressed when I see a Robo that can be handled and stroked So have attached this video from Rachel, which is lovely - seeing her stroking her little Robo! And he doesn't run away! If that had been our first robo he'd have tunnelled away or run out of the house.
I'm going to try and find more tips for taming robos to add to this thread. And please add some if you find any! Hamsters vary in personality and background of course and some Robos may be easier or harder to tame than others.
Neither of my robos would take food from your hand when in the cage - they run and hide. Our first robo had had a lot of stress before he came to me and would always run and hide in the most secure place possible (behind his wheel, flat against the bars). Once he was older and had been handled a few times he was semi tame but sadly didn't live much longer.
Our current Robo Pip wants to come out! Oh he really wants to come out - but then he doesn't, then he does, then he doesn't. I found a way to get him out easily without dismantling the cage. I tried a tube to walk in but he sees your hand coming and shoots out again. So I used this Ferplast pod thing with a tube on the end - it works really well. It lives in his cage partly under his ladder. The tube tempts him inside and I sometimes put treats in it. Then I can put my hand over the tube and lift the whole thing out. Because he's not fast enough to get to the end of the tube from the pod! He likes the pod anyway and goes in it quite often. So then I can just carry him to the playpen.
It's this thing - it's called a hamster lab and is intended to connect to ferplast cages with tubes. I'm not sure I'd like that idea but it's a very useful pod! It's a bit like a hamster ball (slightly bigger) but flat on the bottom and with the option to attach a tube. I have two sides capped off (it comes with the caps) and the front side has a right angle tube attached with the right angle bit pointing upwards. Also capped off at the top but not at the far end. I thought the right angle tube would be better than a straight one, and it is - because he can't resist investigating the bit that goes up before trying to come out of the end of the tube so it slows him down
You have to support it underneath when carrying it though, to ensure the pod and tube stay attached securely. I took the centre piece out as I was a bit concerned a little robo might try to untwist the top if he could reach! Or possibly even get his head stuck in the top ventilation holes. They are not as big as they look though. With the centre part removed it's just an open space. There is a bit of a ridgy bit on the base where the centre piece is supposed to attach, so I put a bit of hemp mat over that. Then put some bedding in it. You can see the ridgy bit on the photo.
There are various Ferplast tubes that attach, but this is the one I got
The tube attaches like a long tube with the right angle bit pointing upwards like a funnel. The end of the tube sits on his cork bark step near his wheel and he often goes in there. Which makes it very easy for me to lift him out and take him for some taming.
It was not a cheap solution and it's not a very glamorous thing to have in a hamster cage (although there is plenty of space for it) but I am happy with it because it allows for a simple way to get a robo out of the cage for taming sessions, without stressing him trying to pick him up and without having to remove half the cage contents to find him if he runs and hides.
It's his transporter
Transports him from the cage to the Playpen. He actually went back inside it when it was in the playpen a couple of times - so it's also a familiar part of his cage that goes with him to the playpen.Some people manage to get a Robo to walk into a mug. Not Pip. He did that once when I was doing some spot cleaning but avoided the mug after that. Strangely he hasn't avoided the pod after it being lifted out. I think he sees it as his because it lives in the cage - as opposed to a mug which appears in his cage (and he can run out of again too quickly).
In the playpen I have a box about 8 to 10" high - not that big - maybe about 14" long and 8" deep. With some bedding inside and bits of food. I leave the box on its side and Pip just walks in. Then I turn the box the right way up again. Once in there it's easier for me to gradually get him used to a hand gently scooping him from underneath, or being held for a few seconds. It's a bit like breaking through a barrier. Once they've been held it's not strange any more. And I could manage quite a few strokes while he was in the box although he wasn't wanting to sit still. He did manage to climb out of the box by climbing up the bedding! But he did seem more relaxed after being handled a little bit. Perhaps less fearful.
I will keep persevering with this. I read an article by a Roborovski breeder (which I can't currently find!) that says once you tame a robo they can actually be more tame than other species of hamster and less likely to run away or will just sit with you. That is something I would like to achieve!
I manage a bit of handling when our Robo Pip is out in the playpen. Pip is gradually getting used to it but I need to persevere.
I am always impressed when I see a Robo that can be handled and stroked
So have attached this video from Rachel, which is lovely - seeing her stroking her little Robo! And he doesn't run away! If that had been our first robo he'd have tunnelled away or run out of the house.I'm going to try and find more tips for taming robos to add to this thread. And please add some if you find any! Hamsters vary in personality and background of course and some Robos may be easier or harder to tame than others.
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