Oak Farm Rabbits and Rodents

Roborovskis Show Details, Schedules & Results* - Show Standard
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Reintroducing

I have already explained how to introduce two hamsters of the opposite sex, who have never met before, but this method can also be used to introduce two hamsters of the same sex too.

I do not have many problems at all using this method to introduce two Roborovskis. Most of the time, they get on absolutely fine and live together with no problems, but sometimes there are problems, and the hamsters will spend most of their time fighting or avoiding each other.

As Roborovski Hamsters are usually very social, it is always best to give them a few chances to live with another hamster, as sometimes if you only give them one chance, it may just be that particular hamster which is causing the problems. So it is always a good idea to try introducing lone hamsters to a number of other lone hamsters just to give them the best chance of being able to live with another Robo.

Obviously, this is not possible for everyone, as you may not have more than two or three Roborovskis, so sometimes the only option is for them to live alone – this is not usually a problem as the hamster will adapt to living on it’s own, and will be absolutely fine as long as it has plenty of toys and activities to keep it active. A lone Robo may also become tamer than Robos who live in pairs or groups.

If you have a lone Robo I am not suggesting you go out and buy a ‘friend’ for him or her, this section is mainly for people who already have a number of lone Robos, or for people with lone Robos who are not doing well on their own, or for the more experienced people who are having problems pairing up two Robos for breeding.

So, if you are having problems pairing up two Robos then please try the following ideas:

The first thing you need to do is to get both hamsters used to the scent of each other by making them live very close together, but without being able to reach each other to fight.

To do this you need a cage, bin or glass tank which is easy to divide into two sections. The best thing to use is a small glass tank, not too small, but not too big so that the hamsters would not need to go near to each other. You then need a divider to go down the centre of the cage, this could be a piece of wire mesh attached to a frame, o it could just be the lid of a tank type cage, but of course, whatever it is, it needs to fit snugly in place to prevent the hamsters from being to able to get around or over it, and it needs to have small enough gaps to prevent the hamsters from getting through it.

You then need to put food, water, toys and nesting material in both sides for each hamster. I think it is a good idea to place everything very close to the divide on each side, so that eventually they will be eating, sleeping and playing as close to each other as they possibly can.

As the two hamsters will be living so close together they will hopefully get used to each other and tolerate each other. Once they have been living like this for a week or so, you can then try removing the divide to see how they are with ach other. Sometimes this is all that is needed and the hamsters will get along fine, but sometimes they will start to fight again one the divide has been removed.

If they do start to fight then you will need to replace the divide and put one on either side again. At this stage you should switch each hamster to the other side of the divide every four or five days, so that they will each be living in different sides every few days. This is an excellent way to get them used o each other’s scent, as they will be sleeping in each other beds and will eventually begin to have similar scents. Once you have done this for three or four weeks, you can then try them together again by removing the divide and seeing how they are with each other. At this stage they are usually fine with other, but of course, there are the occasional Robos who will need to be kept in the divided age for a few more weeks, and there are also a few Robos who just prefer to be left on their own!

If you are still determined to successfully introduce your hamsters, if for example it is very important that a particular pair have babies etc. then there are a few other methods I have heard of, but the most important thing you need to consider is that you do not stress the hamsters out too much – you must be considerate of their feelings and well being.

Please note that the following ideas are just ideas that I have heard of, I haven’t tried any of them, and I would not recommend trying them unless you are very experienced with Roborovskis, and know exactly what you are doing! They are written here just to show what I have heard.

One idea is to put the two hamsters into a small travel cage or small box, and take them in a car for a short drive. I have never tried this method, but it is supposed to work by the two hamsters bonding because they are stressed by the movement of the car. I am not sure if I believe in this method, because I know of instances where other species of dwarf hamster have actually fought and drawn blood while being in travel cages. Another reason I would be reluctant to believe that this works, is because nearly all of my hamsters have travelled in small boxes, travel cages and Show Pens, either when going to new homes, when being bought from other places, or when travelling too and from shows, and none of them show any signs of distress at all – although most of the Roborovskis do cuddle up next to each other. So who knows!

Another idea I have heard of, which I would never try myself, is to let both hamsters have a swim in a shallow bowl of water and then put them in a cage together. Supposedly the two hamsters will groom each other until they are dry and actually bond with each other in the process. As I have never tried this method I haven’t got a clue whether or not it would work, but if you did ever try this method you would have to be very careful for couple of reasons. The first problem is that although hamsters can swim, and the water would not pose a direct threat, the hamsters would be in real danger of losing too much body heat and also becoming ill from getting wet and cold. So of course, precautions would have to be taken to make sure the hamsters did not get too cold. The other problem you might have is with the hamsters ingesting too much water. Like I said, I don’t know as I have never tried it.

The final thing I have heard of is to put some kind of ‘scent’ on each of the hamsters so that they both smell the same. The main thing I have heard of being used is ‘Vanilla Essence’, but I know other things have been used too. I would not be keen on doing this as whatever substance used would have to be safe for the hamster to ingest and also not cause any skin irritation etc. This could be very dangerous to the hamsters if something poisonous to them was used!

Other factors to consider are age, sex and relationships. I have never had problems introducing very young, already weaned, babies to fully grown adults. Between the ages of three and six, maybe seven, weeks old, Roborovskis are still treated very much as babies, and nearly all adults will tolerate them and bond to them over a couple of weeks – of course, they still need to be monitored very carefully just to be on the safe side! Adult males will nearly always tolerate any females who are younger than him. Adult females can be a little difficult to pair up, and it is usually them who cause the trouble, so it is always best to try the youngest make possible with her. Introducing two fully grown Adults, especially much older ones, can sometimes be difficult to successfully introduce, especially if they are the same sex. Also, always be careful if trying to introduce new hamsters into a cage with a mother and her babies, no matter how old, as she can be very protective, as can the father if he is also present!

Always remember that even if you have successfully introduced Roborovskis to other Roborovskis, and they have been harmoniously living together, there is always the chance that things can change – and they usually do very quickly!! Always keep a close eye on any cages with more than one Roborovski in it; always check for bullying and for any hamsters that look underweight, as these could be being prevented from eating or drinking. Always remember that the more hamsters in one cage, the more possibility there is for fighting and bullying!