About Roborovski Hamsters

History

• According to the Pet Care Education and the R &R Hamsters websites, Roborovski hamsters are native to the Gobi Desert. They were discovered by Vsevolod Roborovski in 1894. Several specimens were imported into England in the 1970s by the London Zoological Society, but these hamsters did not breed. In 1998 this species was imported into the United States. The R &R Hamsters website adds that Roborovski hamsters are still uncommon in America.

Natural Habitat

• The Roborovski hamster is native to Mongolia and the northern parts of China. The animal is a desert dweller and is highly efficient at conserving water. The R &R Hamsters website explains that they live in areas with little water and almost no plant life. Since they are sensitive to heat, they survive by burrowing deep underground.

Appearance

• Roborovski hamsters only grow to be about 2 inches long as adults. They have a life span of two to three years. These dwarf hamsters usually develop two colors. Agouti, which is also known as wild color, is sandy with gray roots. They have white eyebrows and lighter-colored bellies. The other variety is called white face. It is agouti everywhere except the face, which is solid white.

Care in Captivity

• The Petite Paws Exotics website recommends keeping Roborovski hamsters in aquariums instead of cages, because they are so small it is easy for them to slip out or become injured. The hamster will need a wood chip substrate such as aspen or pine. The website warns against using cedar because the naturally occurring chemicals in cedar can irritate the hamsters. The hamster should also have a wheel, material such as paper towels for bedding, and a selection of material such as heavy duty paper or wood blocks to chew on, since its teeth are continuously growing.

  Roborovski hamsters should be fed a hamster or rodent mix, but they can also be fed bits of vegetable. The website also recommends providing the hamster with a vitamin supplement and a mineral stone.

Breeding

• According to R &R Hamsters, Roborovski hamsters can be kept in pairs, and they are especially friendly toward each other if they are placed together when they are still young. The females ovulate every four days, and they can produce between three and five litters during their lifetimes. The female can be safely bred when she is around 6 months old. The website suggests separating the parents after the female gives birth to avoid the possibility of the female becoming pregnant again while she is still raising a litter. Females carry their litters for 22 to 26 days. After she gives birth, the baby hamsters should not be handled for at least the first two weeks. They are ready to go to their new homes when they are 6 to 7 weeks old.