The Roborovski Dwarf Hamster

 

 

The Roborovski Dwarf hamster (phodopus roborovskii), commonly known as the Robo dwarf hamster is the smallest species of hamster. These hamsters commonly live in groups and pairs, and are known for their beautiful ginger-colored fur. These hamsters usually prefer to live with at least one other hamster of their kind, but in some cases based on a hamster's past or personality caging multiple Robo dwarves together may be a problem. 

 

History:

The Roborovski Dwarf hamster originates from Mongolia and Southern China, and lives in semi-arid areas. Lt. Vsevolod Roborovski first discovered these hamsters on an expiditon near Nan Shan in 1894. The Roborovski hamster was first studied in captivity in 1903 by Satunin. In the 1960's, the London Zoo imported the Roborivski dwarf hamsters into the UK. In the 1970's, the Zoological Society of London obtained several Roborovski hamsters from the Moscow Zoo but failed to breed them in captivity. Other European countries had more success breeding the hamsters from Russia, and the first Roborovski hamsters became a part of the pet market arrived in the UK in 1990. It is believed that the Roborovskis available as pets in the UK are descendants of a batch of hamsters imported from the Netherlands. In 1998 the first group of Roborovski dwarf hamsters were imported to a hamster breeder in the U.S.

 

Common Misunderstandings:

Roborovski dwarf hamsters have a few common misunderstandings that I have come across in many pet stores.

• Roborovski dwarf hamsters are sometimes labeled as the Sunfire hamster, but I can assure you that there is no such thing as a Sunfire hamster, their proper name is Roborovski dwarf hamster or simply Robo dwarf hamster.

• False: Robo dwarf hamsters are only nocutrnal. True: Robo dwarf hamsters are also crepescular, which means they are also awake at dawn and dusk. They are commonly found awake multiple times during the day, these sleep patterns mostly depend on the specific hamster. 

• False: Roborovski dwarf hamsters are mean. True: These hamsters tend to be a bit  difficult to tame but really this depends on how the hamster is treated and its personality. There is a difference between being "mean" and being difficult to tame. Besides, all hamsters are different, the taming process completely depends on the hamster's personality and patience.

 

 

Fur Types, Patterns, and Colors: 

Unlike the Syrian hamster, Robo dwarf hamsters generally have one similar fur type color and pattern throughout the species, however there are some slight differences. Roborovski dwarf hamsters have short greasy looking fur that is usually 1/3 white and the other 2/3 a ginger, beige or brown color with a gray undercoat covering their back and face (usually the cheeks are white). One common pattern is pied.  However this may vary based on location, some Roborovski dwarf hamsters have spots instead of a solid color, or a dorsal stripe. Another kind of Roborovski dwarf hamster is the white-faced or husky. Robo dwarf hamsters have short greasy looking fur. 

 

 

Common Information:

• Roborovski dwarf hamsters are the smallest species of hamster, their average length is 2-2.5 inches long.

• A Roborovski dwarf hasmter's average lifespan is 3-4 years (depending on care, genetics, and health).

• A healthy weight for these hamsters is 20-25 grams.

• Roborovski dwarf hamsters can live in groups or pairs as long as they are from the same litter or have been raised together from young.  

• In the wild, they eat grains, fruits, vegetables and small quantities of insect and meat.

• Known to be crepescular, ususally nocturnal