The Roborovski hamster—or robo hamster for short—is among the smallest of the breed. They live mainly in the deserts of central Asia, which may seem a bit strange, seeing as they are most active at dusk and early morning. Gauging their intelligence is also an exercise in the paradoxical.
Robo hamsters are smart enough to be wary of humans, though this doesn’t make them untrainable. Like other hamsters, they can learn to recognize their owners and, over time, be tamed (that is—trained to be tame).
I mentioned paradox because people tend to gauge an animal’s intelligence by how well it interacts with humans. Being so tiny, the robo hamster is often relegated to the role of prey. Thus, these little guys won’t just jump into the hands of a creature much larger.
Are Robo Hamsters Intelligent?
Robo hamsters are intelligent. I won’t back the statement up by measuring the common indicators such as self-awareness, problem-solving abilities, or a capacity for empathy. There are a few of my own I prefer to point out, and which robo hamsters possess.
Cautionary Attitude
Being so small, the robo hamster is intimidated by large animals—including humans. If you’ve just purchased one of these hamsters, it is vital to give the animal time to adjust to its surroundings. Do this before attempting to handle it.
The robo hamster’s circumspect nature is a sign of intelligence. Before it gets to know you, you are—at least in the hamster’s eyes—a threat. Here are some tips for the new robo hamster owner:
- It may take several days for the hamster to get used to its new home.
- When the time comes, hold your hand toward the hamster but do not attempt to pick it up (let the hamster come to you).
- After a successful interaction, give the hamster a treat.
Gradually, robo hamsters may let you pick them up for a bit of playtime. Then again, they may not. It’s tough to blame them for being timid, and in knowing that they’re vulnerable, the animals display clear and present intelligence.
Face and Voice Recognition
All hamsters—including the Roborovski—will come to recognize their owners over time. They may get familiar with your face, voice, or both. Even the touch of your hand eventually becomes recognizable.
That’s intelligence for you. Even if the robo hamster decides it doesn’t like you, or simply cannot get comfortable in your presence, the memory of proximity with another living being constitutes percipience. These hamsters are thinking…and casting judgment upon you, my dear pet owner.
Friendly Interaction With Others of Its Kind
This indicator of intelligence relates somewhat to the previous. You may not be “of its kind”, but should you decide to keep more than one robo hamster, you’ll find these animals convivial enough.
One caveat: Keep males with males and females with females. As with other breeds of hamsters, the Roborovski males tend to fight over the attention of the females. I’m pretty sure human males do this, too, but that’s another article.
Sizing Robo Hamsters Up
So how may we compare the intelligence of the robo hamster with other members of its breed? Rather than speculate, let’s look at a table.
| Hamster | Super Intelligent | Very Intelligent |
| Chinese | ✔ | |
| Dwarf Russian | ✔ | |
| Syrian | ✔ | |
| Winter White Russian | ✔ | |
| Roborovski | ✔ |
What you see are the five domesticated hamster breeds. I have based my findings on the three above indicators for intelligence (caution, recognition, interaction).
It’s safe to opine that if you own a hamster of any kind, you own an intelligent pet. In terms of brains, the Roborovski does not disappoint.
Conclusion
Your robo hamster may not be able to solve math problems or unravel a murder mystery. But it’s an intelligent beast that knows enough to be careful with humans. Being something of a party animal, it stays up late playing and sleeps for most of the day. So it knows the value of fun.
Pretty smart, if you ask me.