The Great Escape!

[jayne]

I have had my first experience of an escaped hamster from an exercise ball!

Last night i had Max and Dasha out in their balls, 10minutes had passed and all was fine so i decided to put Dasha back in her cage, walked to the other end of the living room to put her back and what do i see on the floor but Maxs ball open, with the lid lying at the side of it!!!! Of course he did go to the most awkward place, the TV unit where all the wires and cables are and he decided to venture under it!
I called on OH, who was in bed and wasnt impressed, to put Dasha away while i try and lure Max out from the mass of cables with a treat! You know, he knew fine well he was being a cheeky wee monkey and kept going to come out from under it but would then run back under
5minutes later, he comes out to get his treat and he was scooped up and put right back home. I was absolutely frantic at the thought of him chewing through a cable! my heart jumped right up to my throat! Although Max was loving it

I should've kept a better eye on him, the past few times he's been out in his ball he has been trying to chew at the lid but he obviously figured out to twist it

[souffle]

Lucky you were there Jayne and wee Max is safely home now The balls can all too easily pop open really. You could keep a roll of masking tape handy and tape it shut when he is in it. Masking tape is easily removed and leaves no stickyness when peeled off

[Spuds Mum]

some hams just seem to manage to get out of anything! SO glad you found him quickly, and I would second Souffle's tape advice. Our Grey-ham can escape from an ball, luckily he is so nosy that we usually notice by him suddenly appearing on the couch next to us (he loves climbing) or by suddenly seeing him climbing on one of the girls cages!

Tape is the only thing to work (so far )

[Bunsey]

this has happened to me loads. Jake's ball lid just falls off! hannah can twist her's open somehow! a syrian escaping isn't really a problem as they tend to just come to your feet, but an escaped robo is a nightmare. I've been up til 2am robo hunting so many times and i now tape them in just in case

Splodge got out once and hid behind the kitchen units for hours. he wasn't tempted out by food because he was eating a cereal bar that was somehow on the floor back there!

[agatecrystal]

Lucky you were there when he escaped! It's not uncommon I previously caught one of my hamsters about to climb out of the ball!
Glad you found him and hes back home and safe.
You should take the advice of the others and tape the lid shut while he is on there like a few books reccommend. Think I'd have a heart attack if one of my got out in my room, Don't think I'd ever find it again :P :P

[jayne]

Thanks everyone! I think tape is the answer from now on, will even put it on Dashas ball too for peace of mind

[Spacemonkey]

I looked up the other night and saw my Louis looking at me from inside the TV unit, he was almost waving at me through the glass the little monkey, I know how you feel - complete panic and visions of wire chomping.

Glad Max didn't have his freedom for long, although watch out, he probably has a taste for more now

[Bunsey]

i found with syrians that once they escape they keep going back to the same spot and biting at the ball thinking they can escape again

[jayne]

I had Max out in his ball last night all taped up and he went right to the same spot were he escaped the night before and starting scratching away at the lid
I have noticed Max is getting more energetic, to say the least, as in he will run around a lot more and seems more determined, i have a feeling he is going through his stroppy teenager phase

Spacemonkey - yes, i think Max wants more freedom but he ain't getting it