3 replies to this topic

[ForgetfulBreeze]

Hi. I have a cage that is around 3600 sq inches (a DIY) and I was wondering if 2 robos would be happy in there or if it is a bad idea. I have never owned a pair of hamsters before, and I was wondering if with enough enrichment it would be ok. 1/2+ of the cage would be sand or eco earth and the rest would be 12" bedding - at least 600 sq inches of burrowing space. I would have 2 water bowls/water bottles, 2 wheels, and would scatter feed. I would put many toys to keep them busy, and I have the opportunity to split the cage in half if needed. Do you think I should go for it? 

 

 

Thanks! 

[♥️ ♥]

I think if you have at least two of everything, if not, 3 or 4, then it would probably be ok. For the first couple weeks, you would have to moniter then VERY closely.

Before you do anything though, someone who's had experience with this could probably help more. This post really helps too ))

Oh, and also This one ))

Edited by ♥️ ♥, 09 August 2022 - 05:00 AM.

[Robin~]

I think part of this would depend on your experience with hamsters (especially robos). I honestly don't think anyone should get a pair of hamsters until they have a least a couple hamsters worth of experience with the species they want to pair up, especially since robo breeders aren't really a thing in the US so you're not guaranteed you'll get a good pairing (both in terms of genetic temperament and the initial match-up--a breeder would have much more one-on-one time with the hamsters to know who's best with who).

 

If you feel very confident about robos and reading their body language I'd say go for it, but if you don't quite have that much experience with them yet I'd give it a few years and revisit the idea when you have more knowledge and experience under your belt.

 

Generally speaking, I think the general advice on this forum is to discourage pairing, which makes sense. It's very easy to do it wrong if you're inexperienced with hamsters (which, considering the general age demographic of the forum, is most of us) and the benefits, in my opinion, don't outweigh the cons. Don't get me wrong, pairs can and do work out very well and hamsters can form amazing bonds, but there's a lot that has to go right that I don't think is very common in the US considering our lack of ethical breeders (especially for dwarfs).

[Lillias]

They should be littermates that already get along. Double-check their sex when you get them; don't rely on the pet store to sex them. Keeping a pair requires being very sensitive to hamster behavior and knowing if one of the hamsters is not benefiting from the arrangement. Some pairs decide they want their own space as they get older, so you need to continue to monitor them throughout their lifespan.

 

I suggest using hides with two exits, so that no one can be trapped by the other. Scatter-feeding can reduce the risk of food monopolization. Wheels are often the center of contention. Don't put them too close together because one ham might try to claim both. Having a third may help, although you may still end up with a sort of merry-go-round as one tries to claim all the wheels.

 

There are risks. However, it does sound like you have the best possible cage to try this in. They may end up setting up their own territories in such a large space, but that's preferable to a pair fighting because they can't get away from each other.