The Roborovski Hamster is the smallest of all the breeds of hamster. This tiny cute rodent only grows up to be 1.5 or 1.7 inches and weighs a meager 22 grams. This hamster has been known to be a pet but they are not as hands on as a Teddy Bear or a Dwarf, they are much more wild in nature. The Roborovski Hamster is found all over the Gobi Desert as well as Northern China and some forests of Russia. They prefer the heat and enjoy bathing in the sand. Here are some facts that will teach you almost all you need to know about the Robo.
Appearance
As mentioned, they are tiny and also fast little buggers, with speedy little feet they use to escape predators. They have a bear like face with small round ears, big black eyes and a mini pink nose. Their whiskers stick out and they have soft fur coming in a variety of agouti colors ranging from a soft grey and white mix to a soft brown and white mix. They also come in a beautiful soft white, and all Roborovskis have no tail at all.
Temperament
As speedy little rodents, they have quick wits and a great amount of intelligence for being so little. They enjoy being interactive with other Robos so if kept as a pet, social interaction is the key to making them happy. They don’t act like other breeds of hamsters, instead of having fun crawling and playing in tubes, they enjoy scurrying around and making burrows, so a large cage is most appropriate for them. These hamsters are shy but are not known to bite, they can get a little frightened if they are held for too long.
Living in the Gobi and Mongolian deserts, these hamsters live in burrows and migrate to new ones if a rain season occurs. They are the most vigorous at dusk and very early in the morning. Being one to hibernate, the Roborovski stocks food for the winter and stays underground till spring arrives. Digging some serious deep tunnels, this hamster can live up to six feet underground.
Diet
Although they enjoy fruits and veggies, their tiny bodies cannot handle too much all at once and should only be given a sparse amount. They will eat greens, baby carrots, small apple slices, corn, bananas, plums, berries, and seeds. In the wild they tend to be more omnivorous and if they cannot find the right amount of vegetation, they will feed on insects. As a pet, they will also eat a small amount of ground beef, turkey, and mealworms.
Roborovski Hamsters are better off in the wild than kept as a pet since their instincts are less domesticated than other breeds. If handle as a pet, they need extra gentle care because of their small fragile bodies and do not like to be rough housed or poked around. These hamsters may be cute, but they are the most interesting to study in the wild.
