Why?!

Ministottie · 04-10-2011, 04:37 PM

I am at the end of my tether! I have tried everything with Marley, given him loads of toys, treats etc, given him loads of room during out time (to the extent of my entire bedroom bar one or two areas) and all he does is try and escape or try and climb over his barriers to the areas not safe for him!
Why is this because it is driving me nuts? I put in a lot of effort to make him suitable playgrounds and all he does with them is try to escape. I just don't understand.

Is this normal hamster behaviour?

p.s I have the lights low so he isn't scared of them.

StarlightSerenity · 04-10-2011, 05:07 PM

Luna does the same, no matter how big the area she has access to! It's a bit frustrating but she seems to enjoy winding me up lol!

This is her when she was still too small to climb straight out of a bin I used to film her

Ministottie · 04-10-2011, 05:10 PM

It drives me mad, good to know others do it too though. I don't know why I bother with toys, just trying to get out of his play zone is entertainment enough for him lol

**Hamtastic** · 04-10-2011, 05:20 PM

What if you made him a mountain-like terrain play area with boxes and bedding on it and rolls and what not? Something to climb onto and through. Like an egg carton pile connected together or a heap of papier mache.

Ministottie · 04-10-2011, 05:26 PM

That's a good idea, I might give it a go.

Fidgetthefirst · 04-11-2011, 12:51 AM

Every time Milo goes to escape i make a noise and bring him down again - andhe gets the idea, and then he climbs all overme ::L

souffle · 04-11-2011, 01:51 AM

It is because he is not a human ministottie. He has no understanding of safety and no idea what is over there so he wants to investigate and explore as is his natural instinct. There may be a new food source or a female hamster to mate with - he does not know there is not. There is never too much space for exploring and investigating and basically just doing hamstery things and we can only offer as many natural opportunities as possible to stimulate his behaviors within the confines of safety. A wild hamster would likely only live to around 8months of age because in displaying these normal behaviors they encounter many life threatening situations such as predators, lack of food, burrow flooding etc.
They normally settle a bit as they age but still enjoy a good old explore.

samincittagazze · 04-11-2011, 02:09 AM

Mine all do this too. I turned my back on Frohike for 30 seconds the other day and she had managed to scramble up the folders on my bookshelf. I figure they seem to be having fun, so whatever.

CoolcatNatNat44 · 04-11-2011, 04:14 AM

Nibbles always tries to escape i just put security clips on the doors... try re arranging the cage so he doesnt get so bored?

Spark · 04-11-2011, 07:02 AM

Do you have a hallway or other small area you can shut off and give him free roam of? I sit with Suggs in my hallway - once she's run around it a few times and realised she can't escape (although she has tried digging up the carpet!), she starts paying attention to the various toys I've brought in for her.