My hamster is trying to escape. Pls help.

[Haley_Hamster]

My hamster, Napoleon, lives in a large 24 1/2 x 16 1/2 bin with 5-6 inches of beading that I clean once a week, a large wheel, a little home, wooden and foam chew toys, freshwater every week, and a mix of seeds and pellets. I also give him floor time once a day where he is able to hide under lots of homes/boxes and plenty of chew toys. He has never tried to escape before (I have had him for 2 months), but I accidentally left his lid off last night, and he fell out. I found him a few hours later because I scattered food on the ground and he took the bait. I redid his bin and put new food in. He stuffed his cheeks so full he looks like he will pop and he is rigorously trying to escape. I had to take out a few inches of bedding so he wasn't so close to the top and he is trying to use his wheel and home to climb out but I don't want to take it out and stress him even more.

Does anyone know what's happening? I'm hoping he's just stressed from being out of his cage away from food and water all day. But what if he's gotten a taste of freedom?

[Dessi]

I think he succeeded once and liked it so he’s trying to do it again. Time will help.

[Ria P]

Hi and welcome!

Sounds like he got a taste of freedom, liked it and wants more but this time taking provisions.

I'd put the substrate back in and keep the lid on. Don't punish him by taking his things out because it wasn't his fault that you left the lid off. He only did what comes natural to a hamster. Is the lid meshed and does the bin have a meshed window so he can see out?

Also, the water needs changing more often. I change it daily or change it at least every second day.

What kind of hamster is he? If he's a Syrian you need to think big as in big cage and big house.