StoryBooks Pocket Pets
Appreciation, Understanding and Education of Small Animals
Roborovski's Hamster, (Phodopus roborovskii)
These are the newest addition to the family of hamsters kept as pets. Roborovski hamsters are the smallest of the hamster family, being only about 5cm long when fully grown. They are sandy brown on their head and back and pure white underneath, but have endearing white "eyebrows" and whiskers. Recently, a mutation has arisen producing a "husky", also known as "white-faced" (Which StoryBooks has here) Breeding these lines with agouti Roborovskis produces a diluted appearance of their natural brown colour. Roborovski's live in the wild around the Gobi Desert, throughout Mongolia's desert steppe and parts of northern China. They are particularly suited to the steppe, as they are highly efficient in their use of water (as evidenced by how they may pass particularly concentrated urine), so little vegetation is required there. They dig burrows to inhabit, these are usually steep tunnels and they live between 60 and 200cm. below ground.Since there is so little about this hamster on the Internet, all I can do is observe the one's I have here, and read what little info is out there on them.
Roborovski's hamsters are gentle and naturally docile but extremely fast! They rarely if ever bite but do wriggle - and if they escape they are difficult to catch, although repeated, gentle handling will calm them down somewhat. Since they are so wriggly, they are not generally recommended for anyone wanting a pet to "cuddle". When they are being handled, it is best to do so over a "playbox". (If a Roborovski's hamster gets loose on the floor it will be a major challenge to retrieve!) On the plus side, however, their temperament is reliably good; bites or even nips are so rare as to be effectively unheard of. As a pet to watch, busily going about its day to day existence, they are without equal.
Their care is basically similar to that of other hamsters, particularly the other "Dwarfs". Aquarium tanks, (either plastic or glass) are better suited for them as they can escape in a wire cage. They seem to be more fond of tubes, plastic houses and hideaways than other species of hamster, and will enjoy nesting in any cardboard rolls or small boxes that are given to them. They are very active and so require lots of toys to play with - and they do play.
In terms of feeding, normal hamster food suits them well, although as a treat they especially relish a small amount of bird seed, particularly millet or foreign finch seed. (They will also take the spray millet sold for budgerigars). Concerning fruit and vegetables, any of the "greens" that other species of hamster will eat are suitable for Roborovski's. "PocketPet Care info"
Lifespan for Roborovski's hamsters is usually about two years, comparable to Syrians and other "Dwarfs". They do not seem to suffer from any genetic predisposition to disease that I am aware of, apart from the fact that some bloodlines do seem to throw out occasional individuals which "spin", as if they have had a stroke or middle ear infection. These individuals are very uncommon and seem to be completely unconcerned about their affliction, feeding well and coping perfectly with the requirements of a normal life.
Breeding this species is not difficult but they do not seem as fertile as, for example, Campbell's. In addition, litter size is usually fairly small, three to five being normal, although I have known up to eight. These facts may make "Robos" less attractive to commercial breeders and hence explain why few Pet Shops sell them. For the Exhibitor Breeder, however, this is not necessarily a problem, since they do not have a living to make from their hamsters. Breeding is simply a matter of leaving a male and female together and waiting. Both sexes make excellent parents and the pair may produce a litter every three weeks or so, although this is unusual and every four to five weeks is more common. The babies are fully furred at two weeks of age and resemble miniature adults by about three weeks.
It was believed that Roborovski's hamsters didn't breed until their second spring, and many breeders report that theirs only breed at certain times of the year - usually Spring and early Summer. This would suggest that they are responding to increased day length. They also seem to suffer from "inbreeding depression" when colonies are left to breed for several generations. "Outcross" pairs seem more fertile and seem to start breeding at an earlier age, (on average), than those from several generations of inbreeding. For this reason it is important that dedicated breeder exhibitors maintain open bloodlines and exchange animals frequently to minimize inbreeding depression and ensure the future of this delightful animal.
More coming as I watch my own Robo's
Two Normals with two Platinum? Husky pups and the rest Normal pups.. The picture above is one of the pups as an Adult.
Two Normals with two Platinum? Husky pups and the rest Normal pups.. The picture above is one of the pups as an Adult.
Breeders
Notes
Lots of hamsters breeders argue if these higher white Robo's are Platinum's or just a whiter WF Husky. Thought I have got these higher whites from two Normals carrying Husky or a Husky and a Normal with the Husky gene. When breeding these two high whites together I've got Normals and the bald face Husky normally seen.
Lots of hamsters breeders argue if these higher white Robo's are Platinum's or just a whiter WF Husky. Thought I have got these higher whites from two Normals carrying Husky or a Husky and a Normal with the Husky gene. When breeding these two high whites together I've got Normals and the bald face Husky normally seen.
If any breeders would like to Email Me and share their thoughts on this
please feel free.. I look forward to hearing from you.
Pictures to follow soon.
Pictures to follow soon.
