Owning a Roborovski hamster is a fantastic way to keep boredom at bay. However, you may wonder whether these little animals can perform activities like climbing. So, does their size and weight help or prevent them from being good climbers?
Roborovski hamsters aren’t good at climbing. They are the smallest species of hamster, so they are lightweight and have little muscle tone. These attributes make it more challenging for them to climb surfaces.
I’ll take you through some reasons why Roborovski hamsters aren’t good climbers. I will also explain a few strategies you can implement to help them climb better.
Why Roborovski Hamsters Aren’t Good Climbers
If you own Roborovski hamsters, you’ll know they are friendly, active, and intelligent. They are also very playful. However, despite being so active, Robo hamsters can’t climb.
So, why aren’t Robo hamsters good climbers?
They Have Hairy Feet
Roborovski hamsters’ natural habitat is sandy deserts. So they have furry feet that would protect them from the hot sand. However, their hairy feet limit their climbing abilities because the fur gets in the way. So the fur prevents them from gripping smooth surfaces when they try to climb.
They Are Tiny
An adult Robo hamster weighs 20-25 grams (0.71-0.88 oz.) and is 4.5-5 centimeters (1.8-2.0 inches) tall. Their tiny bodies lack the muscle tone needed to support seamless climbing. These attributes make climbing for Robo hamsters more challenging.
Their Tails are Too Short
Robo dwarf hamsters have short tails that are less than half an inch long. Their tails measure about ⅛ inches (0.32 cm) in length.
The short tails help them to stay agile and maneuverable. They can also squeeze into small spaces more easily. However, the short tails are ineffective for balancing, making it difficult for robo hamsters to climb well.
Their Claws Aren’t Sharp
Robo hamsters’ claws are pretty dull. The dull claws are not a big issue, as Robo hamsters are not known for being particularly aggressive. However, their claws make it difficult for them to get a good grip on surfaces, which makes it hard for them to climb.
How to Help Your Robo Hamsters Climb
While Roborovski hamsters are poor climbers, they can still climb. Therefore, you can incorporate some strategies for them to climb with ease.
Buy Them a Climbing Toy
You can help your furry friends by buying them a climbing frame hamster toy. The Robo Dwarf hamster can climb the toy without significant difficulty.
The ideal climbing toy should be one whose surface is rough to ensure the hamster’s hairy feet get a good grip when climbing. Besides easing climbing, the toy helps to keep your Robo hamster active.
Hamsters love activity – some can run up to 100 miles (161 kilometers) per night.
Incorporate Wooden Ladders in the Cage
You can put a wooden ladder in a Robo dwarf hamster’s enclosure for the pet to explore. Ensure the wooden ladder is rough. Smooth ones offer poor grip and make it difficult for your hamster to climb.
Ensure that the ladder isn’t too steep. Angle it at no more than 45˚, and keep the climbing distance short. Remember that the Robo hamster is the smallest in the world and can easily slip and fall.
Put Cork Tubes in the Robo Hamster Enclosure
Cork tubes are another fantastic addition to your Roborovski hamster’s enclosure. You can stack them up to form a mountain with various hiding spots for your Robo hamster to explore.
Hide treats or food in the cork tubes’ crevices to encourage the hamster to climb while looking for them. Cork tubes are fantastic for Robo hamsters as they provide excellent grip and are easy to climb.
Conclusion
Roborovski hamsters aren’t good climbers. Their tiny size and lack of muscle tone limit their climbing capabilities. Besides, their short tails and hairy feet limit their balance and grip while climbing.
However, that doesn’t mean they can’t climb at all. Robo hamsters can climb if you offer them good toys with a rough texture for gripping while climbing. Just be mindful of the height and angle of the climbing objects in their enclosure.