Toffee Opened His Playpen!

starbug · 03-07-2010, 02:02 PM

I bought one of those playpens from Pets at Home. Was fine for the first two days, but yesterday I found it had opened behind me and Toffee was sitting there looking at the escape route. Nearly gave me a heart attack, as our lounge isn't hamster-proof.

Today, I sat in it with the fastening towards me, in case it happened again. Then I found out that Toffee had actually opened it by pushing one panel up and unhooking it from the other! He did it twice and then I put him back in his cage. Time to get some cable ties, I think!

Flissy · 03-07-2010, 02:48 PM

If its the same playpen that I have, my hamsters just climb straight out of it!!

starbug · 03-07-2010, 02:51 PM

It's this one: Play Pen for Hamsters by S.A.M. | Pets at Home

Flissy · 03-07-2010, 02:59 PM

Yeah that is the one i have.... they just climb up the sides of it with no difficulty at all! I have to watch them the whole time, they should have made it a bit higher I think.

Tish36 · 03-07-2010, 03:37 PM

I was going to get one for my boyfriend when he gets his hamster, but considering we ALWAYS seem to pick hammies that love to climb, I'll stay clear

Katty_Sheldon · 03-07-2010, 04:00 PM

I posted a home made carton playpen somewhere in DIY section

its pretty cheap, easy to make and easy to store...its just not that cool looking, but hamsters cant escape that easily from it

**Hope** · 03-08-2010, 03:53 AM

I looked at getting one of those pens from P@H but they are quite pricey for what they are so I decided to use the bath untill I had made a decison on whether to get one or not. But the bath seems to suit my hammy really well and there is no possible escape as the sides are too high and slippy. I would recommend giving it a try and seeing how it works for you - just remember to block the plughole!

souffle · 03-08-2010, 05:31 AM

We find Syrians can climb right over these no problem

There was an instance also where a dwarf actually got his head jammed through the bars too and nearly killed himself so they need watched carefully in these pens.

fluffymunchkins · 03-08-2010, 11:22 AM

I just prefer to let my hams have floortime in a hamster proof room

But i can understand that some people just can't do this, so when i'm doing something else so i can't watch them closely i put them in the bath aswell.
Some hamsters are just born houdini's

starbug · 03-08-2010, 02:14 PM

I suggested the bath idea to my hubby and he's worried about little claws scratching the enamel. Is this likely to happen?