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Wheel! Wheels are essential, no matter what breed of hamster you own. When buying one, make sure you check to see if it has a solid plastic platform, or a wired platform. Other than being extremely squeaky, the wired platform wheels increase the likely hood of injuries! The feet of your hamster can easily become trapped. It’s even more dangerous if you have more than one hamster in any cage. Because Roborovski’s are light and weightless, the wheel will carry on spinning once the hamster becomes stuck. This can lead to a painfully bruised leg, or even a broken foot! These injuries are beyond repair of any vet due to their size, thus being put to sleep would be the only and "kind" option!
Tip: If your wheel squeaks, try rubbing a small amount of lard in between the spinner and the wheel. This will almost certainly give you some peace and quiet for a month or so, in which you can "re-lard", if you like. You can use sunflower oil too, but it may leak out onto your hammies and give them an unpleasant greasy coat.
Logs and Tunnels! Logs with holes in or a piece of wood, both of which from a pet shop is very much appreciated. It provides activity, gnawing material, and a hiding place. It's so basic, very cheap and gives the Robo's something fun to root around in. Plastic, wooden or cardboard toilet tubes are great too, yet again they are simple, safe to gnaw on and provide fun and hiding areas, especially if you make your own holes in them! Alternatively, you can always clip off a few apple tree sticks. My hamsters love them, and they're 100% safe to gnaw on too, as long as they haven't been sprayed with anti-bug disinfected!
Play House! My dad and I bought a cheap bird box, safely nailed in a platform and drilled holes in to it (including the middle platform). We also put 2 inch long stilts on it and put a hole through the base of the house so they had a basement they can get to. I know my hamsters absolutely love it!
Another option would be to use an ordinary cardboard egg box! Hamster love these and usually tend to sleep in them too as its more secure and "tunnel like" than the ordinary plastic houses.
Sleeping Nest! Instead of trying to mimic a natural hamster home, under ground, I designed a natural hamster home, on ground! I entwined loads of apple twigs together, and then wrapped garden twine around the entrance etc to make it neat and safe. Then I added a cardboard tube underneath. In the morning I was delighted to see their natural instincts kicked in and they made their own tunnels too!
Other! Obviously it's all up to you how you set out your living quarters for your Robo's. If you make any toys, make sure you use safe material before you crack on with it, and buy any other bits from your local pet shop. You can also buy a load of toys for them, and change their cage every week, so there's new toys to explore and a new layout!
