HELP! Hamster in the wall!

[disneycrew]

Sadly no sign of him last night and no noise made, so I don't even have an idea of where he is.
No food has been touched either and no footprints in the flour.

Should I stay positive, or is it unlikely he'll come back now?

[Cinnamon Bear]

Like Souffle suggested is there any way you could contact your neighbors if you live in an apartment complex? Even upstairs neighbors? Sorry this is happening must be very distressing. Definitely stay positive.

[Pebbles82]

Did you ever see that episode of "Outnumbered"? Where the little girls hamster disappears under the floorboards. Dad keeps saying for weeks - forget it he's probably dead. Weeks later he emerged from a hole behind the toilet. Ok that's just fiction - but don't give up hope. He's probably having a whale of a time - freedom - he will be looking for food at some point - so is bound to come out somewhere.

What is the set up where you live? Is it a house or a flat? Is it all dry wall or just some walls? Do you have solid floors or floorboards? Are there any other gaps in walls apart from the one he went into? You could put food near all gaps (and the flour Souffle suggested) and see if any food goes. He will likely come back to the same place he took food from the previous time. So you can set up a trap there. They can go without food for a few days but will be looking for water as well so put some water out in a dish too (again with the flour so you can see footprints).

[disneycrew]

I have spoken to my neighbours and they will keep a look out.

I just can't help but feel terrible, I normally shut all the doors and let them go in their balls in the hallway, but I left the bathroom door slightly open.
If I hadn't he would never have gone through the hole. But we've never had a problem with his ball, he's never gotten out before

[disneycrew]

It's an apartment complex and I've got mainly carpet throughout, except the bathrooms which are tiled.
I've put food in all rooms and opened up a hole in another bedroom with a trap, as well as 3 other bucket traps.
I rent the apartment, so I can't do any damage, but even if I could, I've not heard him so wouldn't even know where to start!

[Pebbles82]

Ok he could well come out in someone else's apartment then. And they can chew through drywall as well. Maybe put a notice up in the entrance to the apartment block saying hamster lost in wall - please phone xxxx if you see or hear anything in your apartment wall. You won't hear anything during the day - he is probably sleeping. After midnight would be the noisy time I think. Don't blame yourself. Our hamster got out of his ball not long ago and went straight behind the fridge. Had to dismantle the worktops to get him out. If there had been a hole in the floor there he'd have been down it.

[disneycrew]

I've just heard him!
I cooked some bacon and put some in the bathroom and an hour later I heard him. It's so frustrating it sounds like he's behind the wall, near the hole, but not coming close enough to come out. I don't see why he wouldn't be able to get back to it, so I'm hoping if I leave the door closed and lights off he might be tempted out.
He's climbing like crazy though, and I keep hearing bits of the inside of the wall falling down.
Fingerscrossed.

[Cinnamon Bear]

Yay! Hope to hear he's back safe & sound real soon
Glad you are hearing him near the hole, just a matter of time now hopefully

[souffle]

he may be unable to get a grip - get some cloth down the hole so he can grip it to climb up.

[freyashamsters]

It's good news that you've heard him, that guarantees that he's alive and well
I know what you mean about hearing him but not seeing him; once both of my robos got out of their cage and ran around the house for about 6 hours straight! I kept hearing them but couldn't figure out where they were