Have you ever heard about ‘dwarf hamster’? Dwarf hamsters are popular among hamster lovers. Just like their name, dwarf hamsters have a petite body. These tiny hamsters include many species which all of them have their own unique characteristics. One of the most popular ones is Roborvski hamsters. They are the smallest one from three species of hamster in the Phodopus genus beside Campbell’s and Djungarian hamsters.
If you are not familiar with the name of Roborvski hamster, how about Robo dwarf hamster? Are they different types of hamster? Let’s find it out in this article!
What Are the Differences Between Roborovski vs. Robo Dwarf Hamster
The origin and habitat of the Roborovski or Robo dwarf hamster
Are there any differences between these two? The answer is no. The Roborovski hamster also known as Robo dwarf hamster or the desert hamster. Both share the same Latin name which is Phodopus roborovski. The name of Robovorski itself came from the Russian scientist who first discovered the hamster in Mongolia.
If the Winter white hamster rules the cold and snowy surroundings, then the Roborovski hamster is the one who lives in the sandy and dry area. In their natural habitat, the wild Roborovski or Robo dwarf hamsters can be found in the desert of Russia, Northern China, and Kazakhstan. They have efficient use of water as a way to adapt to the dry and hot condition of the steppe or desert region where they are living in. They also like to dig burrows on the ground and being most active at night from dawn to dusk.
The Appearance of Roborovski or Robo Dwarf hamster
Roborovski or Robo dwarf hamster is the smallest species of pet hamsters. Roborovski hamsters are only 6 cm or 3 inches long and weight no more than 30 grams! In the wild, the Roborovski hamsters usually have a sandy color on their backs and white color on their bellies to help them blend in with sand or the desert surroundings. Some of their types like white-face Robo or Husky Robo have a completely white face. The Roborovski hamster has no dorsal stripes like any other dwarf hamsters. Another distinguish features that only the Roborovski hamsters have is their white eyebrow-like spots over their eyes. There are at least ten variations of the Roborovski hamster, which are Agouti, Whiteface, Husky, Platinum, Head spot, Mottled, the Pure white, the Red-eyed, and the White from white-faced.
The behaviors of Roborovski or Robo dwarf hamster
The Roborovski hamsters might be small, but they are very curious, relatively fast, and energetic. They are naturally a good runner! They are also one of the types of hamsters than are sociable with their own kind, especially when they socialized from a young age. However, the Roborovski hamsters are easy to get startled and quite shy.
As a pet, the Roborovski hamsters are not as affectionate as others. They are lovely but they don’t bond easily with humans and don’t like to be held or picked up. Therefore, if you are looking for a hamster pet to play with, the Roborovski hamsters may not be suitable for you.
But don’t be sad, though! There is a way to let your Roborovski hamsters get adjusted with being handled. You can train them by putting their treats on your hand. With the treats on your fingers, rest your hand gently with the palm up. Let your hamster find its way to you and try to pick it in an area where it can be easily caught. With their tiny body, it will be frustrating for you to search them around your house if they escape from your hand and hide away.
The Roborovski hamsters are also not suitable for children. They are a robust hamster and too tiny so the children can accidentally squeeze them too hard and injure both the hamster and the kid. In general, the Roborovski hamsters like to bite too just like any other dwarf hamsters! Still, the Roborovski hamsters are an excellent pet especially for those who like to observe or watch their hamsters from their cage.
Unlike other types of hamsters, the Roborovski hamsters can get along with the same-sex pairs or groupings when you put them in the same cage, especially if you start grouping them when they are in the early age. However, you might want to avoid adding a new Roborovski or Robo dwarf hamsters to an established group because the group hates a newcomer!
The favorite foods of Roborovski or Robo dwarf hamster
In their natural habitat, they usually store their foods in a special food chamber in their burrows during warmer weather as food stock for cold months. They will remain there for the whole winter so they need to prepare a lot of food in order to survive!
As a hamster, they are surely omnivore animals. Primarily, their favorite food varies from seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables, and plants. They also like to have some insects or meat in small portions.
As for the conclusion, there are no differences between the Roborovski hamster and the Robo dwarf hamster. They are the same type of hamster that only have a difference in their nickname.
Whatever the nickname you give to them, we all agree that the Roborovski hamsters or the Robo dwarf hamsters are a lovely hamster! They might hate to be handled, but they are still very energetic and fun to watch! If you want to have them as a pet, make sure you provide them with exercise toys like hamster wheel or tunnels. They will love them as much as they love you! The Roborovski hamster or the Robo dwarf hamster is also a good companion because they can live long with an average lifespan up to 3 to 4 years, as long as they have a nutritious balanced diet and plenty of exercises! A healthy hamster is a happy hamster!