Roborovsky Hamster: description, features of keeping and breeding

Not so often among pets you can meet a hamster Roborovsky. This animal is considered a rather rare instance. Representatives of this breed of hamsters are incredibly friendly and love to live in large families. They differ from their relatives in their small size, and therefore require special care.

In the family of hamsters, you can find such a tiny, bony-footed representative, as the Roborovsky hamster. The size of the animal is equal to the size of a chicken egg.

The natural habitat of the hamster is China and Mongolia. It was first discovered in China (in the Tien Shan mountains). He received his name in honor of the discoverer - zoologist V. I. Roborovsky. In the 70s of the last century, he was brought to our region. In the stains of Europe and America, the animal did not take root. But at the same time the Dutch were diligently engaged in its breeding.

Characteristic hamster Roborovsky:

1. the maximum body length is not more than 5 centimeters;
2. on average, such hamsters weigh about 24 g;
3. the dwarf hamster has a very short tail, which can not always be seen with the naked eye due to the long and fluffy coat;
4. despite its size, the head of the hamster is quite large, the ears are upright, have a gray color;
5. the muzzle of the animal has a flattened shape;
6. Another characteristic feature of this type of hamster is its large eyes, which are black in color;
7. it is interesting that four fingers are located on the front legs, and five on the hind legs;
8. small paws are completely covered with wool;
9. Roborovsky hamsters have very good eyesight;
10. like many representatives of their family, these hamsters make stocks for the winter, but do not fall into hibernation;
11. hamsters get along well with their relatives, regardless of gender;
12. the animal practically does not bite, and if this happens, its bites are painless;
13. the individual reaches puberty already in the third week after birth;
14. they have complex breeding in captivity, so they are not used in various laboratory studies;
15. Roborovsky's hamsters are very active animals and practically can not sit still;
16. It was our compatriots who made a huge contribution to the breeding of such hamsters, so you can often find another name for dwarf animals - “Russians”.

Hamsters live relatively short. Life expectancy in captivity depends on many factors:

1. diet
2. stress;
3. genetics;
4. illnesses;
5. conditions of detention.

Each person would like his pet to live a longer life, but unlike the usual cats or dogs for us, Roborovsky's hamster can live from 3 to 3.5 years. Of course, you can affect his life expectancy by observing the basic rules of maintenance, including the nuances of grooming, but he will not be able to significantly increase the lifespan of this animal.

In this case, many owners of dwarf hamsters try to avoid emotional attachment to the animal, which can negatively affect the pet itself. They like to live in large families. If the hamster receives insufficient attention, he becomes more susceptible to stress. Also, some owners of a dwarf pet do not properly care for him and never show them to a veterinarian.

However, short life expectancy can be considered as a huge plus. For example, in America such an animal is quite popular as a pet. Many parents have them for their children. They teach them responsibility, as well as understanding that life is not eternal. Raising such topics is not very pleasant, but children in this case learn to let go of the situation.

Many pets live a long life and require huge costs for their maintenance both materially and morally. In the case of the acquisition of a dwarf pet, the obligation to him will be in a shorter form. But at the same time, we begin to value our pet more, as we have a limited amount of time that we can spend with him.

Before purchasing a dwarf hamster, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic rules for the care and maintenance of the animal in detail. It is interesting to know that Roborovsky hamsters are used to living in small colonies. For this reason, it is best to start not one, but two hamsters. In this case, they will be more active and energetic. It is desirable that the animals were of the same sex. In no case should you settle two males and a female in one place. In this case, a spirit of rivalry appears between the males, which will lead to unpleasant consequences.

Typically, rodents are placed in a cage, the bottom of which is filled with a small layer of sand. Quartz-based sand is best suited for this purpose. In some cases, resort to the use of wood sawdust. Above you can arrange small branches of fruit plants. Also use moss or hay.

Hamster Home Accessories:

1. feeding trough;
2. drinking bowl;
3. wheel;
4. mineral stone;
5. tray.

If there are two hamsters, it is best to make them separate houses in a cage and place two wheels. The area of ​​the cage for 2 pets should have parameters 50 * 70 centimeters.

Also, many owners of dwarf pets place them in all kinds of containers (dunes). It is strongly not recommended to keep the hamster in the aquarium, as due to fogging of the glass a large number of bacteria can form in it.

As the cells become contaminated, it is necessary to clean it. Usually this process is carried out 2 times a week. You should change the water in the drinker daily, as it can become contaminated in a day. The feeder is regularly cleaned.

To get rid of the unpleasant odor and facilitate the cleaning process, the owners of such pets place a tray in the cage and buy a special filler for it. It is advisable to accustom a hamster to the toilet immediately. At a more mature age, this is quite difficult to do.

The dwarf hamster's daily diet should be rich and varied. In a specialized store you can buy food specially designed for rodents. Pets also enjoy eating vegetables, fruits, herbs and various crops.

Mandatory products that must be present in the diet of a hamster Roborovsky:

1. fish;
2. a hen;
3. wheat;
4. sour cream and low-fat cottage cheese;
5. chicken eggs;
6. greens;
7. cereals;
8. millet;
9. vegetables;
10. fruits.

It is worth considering that the food from the human table is not suitable for the hamster, so we will pay special attention to undesirable foods in the pet’s diet:

1. spice;
2. canned foods;
3. citrus;
4. semi-finished products;
5. salty and sweet foods;
6. cabbage and tomatoes;
7. stale foods or food debris.

Unlike other breeds, the Roborovsky hamster does not have a high degree of fecundity. The litter contains no more than 5 babies. For this reason, this type of pet is rarely found on the market.

If you want to breed hamsters, it is best to cook them for this since childhood by forming a pair. So hamsters can get used to each other. If this is not possible, rodents need time to grind. A special partition is installed in the container for keeping pets. Hamsters are best kept on opposite sides of the septum. It is necessary in order not to provoke a fight between individuals of different sexes. During this period they will sniff. After they get used to each other, the partition is removed.

The optimal age for breeding 4 months is 1 year. The female needs time to recover, so after delivery, at least 2.5 months must pass before the next fertilization. The gestation period can last a little more than three weeks.

Roborovsky hamsters love secluded places and often hide in them from everyone. During pregnancy and after childbirth in females, this manifests itself in a rather acute form. For this reason, it is desirable to make a hidden place in the cage where the female can give birth. It is recommended to buy two houses, because after the birth the female becomes less stress-resistant and may begin to show aggression. At this time, it is better not to disturb and wait for the cleaning in the cage. At first, you should not touch offspring.

Newborn hamsters of this breed do not have hair, they lack vision and hearing. Their weight does not exceed one gram, and the length of the case is equal to one centimeter. Females of this breed have a pronounced maternal instinct, and she carefully takes care of the offspring. But still, you need to look at them from time to time.

Newborn hamsters feed on white bread soaked in milk. You can also feed them with millet or buckwheat, previously soaked in hot water. From greens, they eat clover leaves or lettuce. The food is left in the feeder, after which the female feeds herself. In some cases, it is better to leave food near the rodent's home. After three weeks, the diet of babies can be enriched with such products:

1. wheat;
2. fish;
3. chicken and eggs;
4. low fat cottage cheese;
5. zucchini.

Upon reaching the age of 23 days, the offspring are separated from the mother. It is important to know that rodents closely related are strongly discouraged from crossing. In this case, the offspring will be very weak and unhealthy.

See how Roborovsky’s hamster looks in the next video.