Escaping hamster

[ThereGoesLucie]

My hamster always tried to escape...no matter how escape proof I make it, she finds another way! She has a large detolf house with plenty of toys her never plays. If she escapes she's normally found next to my bed staring at me and won't run away. I get her out for almost an hour each nigh (cuddles and play time out of the house).

Is there anything anyone can recommend? Any toys that she might actually play with? She runs on her wheel but not for long and she will run through her see saw but she won't play with anything else or chew her chew toys...just chews whatever is in her way of escaping!!

HELP!

[AprilPearl]

Sounds as though you've got a little Houdini on your hands! To be honest, I don't think that providing more toys will necessarily deter her escape attempts. You'd be better off stopping her being able to escape in the first place, though I accept that's easier said than done.

Do you know how she is getting out? Perhaps people here could advise you on how to eliminate her escape route.

[Jennie F]

I have my girl in a detolf as well. She has only chewed once, around the small hole in one end for a light. I just used some of the thick cardboard i kept from the packaging to block the hole after I put a bolt throught the hole. The cardboard is wedged between the bars at the bottom so she cant move it unless she chews her way though it, but ive put the wheel in front of the cardboard so its difficult for her to get the right angle to chew. Seems to have worked for me.

Where has she chewed and how is she escaping? Have you got any pics you could post and we could maybe come up with ideas

[ThereGoesLucie]

Originally Posted by Jennie F

I have my girl in a detolf as well. She has only chewed once, around the small hole in one end for a light. I just used some of the thick cardboard i kept from the packaging to block the hole after I put a bolt throught the hole. The cardboard is wedged between the bars at the bottom so she cant move it unless she chews her way though it, but ive put the wheel in front of the cardboard so its difficult for her to get the right angle to chew. Seems to have worked for me.

Where has she chewed and how is she escaping? Have you got any pics you could post and we could maybe come up with ideas

I have gotten rid of the bars and replaced them with a curtain pole either side St the top and then my lids rest on that. I also covered the hole where the light was with plastic. It's a case of she can climb and nudge the lid off but I think I've dsolved it now! Just a shame she can't have her pipes as he used those to climb on and get out

[Pebbles82]

Putting a heavy book on each lid might solve it I think they are hardwired to try and escape! I also agree that adding more enrichment type toys might distract her, as it's at night when they are so active. Does she have a suitable sized wheel that works ok? I think these large cork logs and tunnels are brilliant and you have plenty of space for them in a detolf. They add an interesting natural texture, and are good for climbing over and running through, plus give plenty of hidey places if she feels a bit exposed in parts of the detolf. The only real downside to them is, I recommend freezing them for a week (just wrapped in a plastic carrier bag) before using to make sure no microscopic bugs could be living in them. And they can need a bit of a dust off as well if they arrive a bit dusty inside. Otherwise any bits of dried moss etc stuck to them are perfectly safe.

Tunnels & Dens: bargain prices at zooplus: Trixie Cork Tunnel

Amazon sell them as well if you don't need anything else from zooplus, and avoid the postage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-7640...ds=cork+tunnel

I have this rodipet one as well. It costs a bit more but I like that it's open underneath. It's also really tall so makes a good climbing thing.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tunnel-Medi...ds=cork+tunnel

Also a good depth of substrate for digging and burying things in helps - in at least part of the detolf.