Species: Roborovski
Gender: Male
Estimated Age: 3 months
Likes: Lots and lots of sand, his wheel, tofu!
Dislikes: Sudden movements, grabbing, being touched, hands
Tiny Rudolph was surrendered to us on Christmas Day. He is extremely timid by nature (as most Robos generally are) so adopters will have to be *extremely* patient and gentle with him. He is NOT suitable for adopters who want a hamster that can be picked up and interacted with. Simply put, Rudolph is like a fish in an aquarium, for you to admire and take pictures of, not to touch.
Rudolph spends all of his time in his sand bath and wheel. Adopters are to provide a VERY large sand bath (it’s best to directly pour sand into the cage rather than use a container), you can refer to his current foster cage set up below if you cannot visualise it.
He is an avid runner and can be found running on his wheel at random times throughout the day. He runs extremely fast so it will be best to get a covered wheel to prevent him from flying out and injuring himself. Alternatively, an uncovered wheel can be used but must be placed in his sand bath or in an area with lots of bedding (and no sharp objects) to cushion his fall. If his future adopters plan on keeping him in their bedroom, make sure to invest in a high-quality silent wheel especially if you are light sleepers!
Rudolph has yet to master the art of burrowing… Either that or he is simply not interested in bedding. Despite that, adopters are still expected to provide him with sufficient bedding as his behaviour may change in a different environment. He is currently being given around 10cm of bedding height which is the minimum!
An upside to his lack of burrowing skills is that he sleeps in the open so you get to see him pancake on his wheel or in his sand bath, or sit on his balls to groom himself… heh! Even though he may never be a cuddly hamster, he will be sure to bring lots of entertainment to his adopters with his cute baby face and endless marathons on his wheel.
Things to note when adopting Roborovskis:
1. Adopters should make sure to get a glass tank/bin cage/acrylic cage that does not have bars as roborovski hamsters are smaller and can squeeze through the gaps.
2. 1/3 of the cage should be covered with sand as roborovski hamsters tend to become excessively ‘greasy’ when an appropriately sized sand area is not given.
3. A wheel that is minimally 21cm should still be provided even if they are smaller in size as compared to dwarf hamsters.
4. They are fast and might not be suitable for children. Some may also nip/bite.
5. Taming is not guaranteed, but possible with lots of patience, time and love!
