Dwarf Playpen Warning

[Holly]

Unfortunately we had a bit of a disaster on Monday evening. I've read that dwarf hamsters can squeeze through the bars of the commercial (the ones sold at P@H) playpens so, though we've used it with ours occasionally, I always watch them closely and prefer to put them in the bath when they come out.

Anyway, on Monday, I needed to clean out Sparrow and Turner's (WWs) cage and, with my son away, I enlisted the help of my nephew - to watch them while I did the cleaning out. It's not easy to clean out the cage in the bathroom so we took them downstaiirs and put them in the playpen (they've been brilliant the past few days with no nips at all, though I've been holding them minimally in my hands and letting them climb on me instead) and I started cleaning out.

My nephew was watching them carefully and suddenly he screamed at me "He's squeezing out!"....sure enough Sparrow was halfway through the bars, but the worse thing was that he seemed to be stuck ...he was screaming which was horrifying and I just didn't know what to do. He must have only been stuck for about 30 seconds but it seemed like forever with him squealing like that.

Anyway I tried to prise the bars above him apart and he managed to squeeze through - not before he bit both of us drawing blood, which I obviously can't blame him for

He didn't try to run - he just seemed dazed and shocked so I scooped him up and put him back in the cage (which was just about ready) and he just lay on the floor for a few minutes. I wasn't sure whether to put Turner back as well - I thought perhaps, if Sparrow were injured, Turner might attack him.

Anyway after a few minutes Sparrow got up and started eating the food I'd just put down so I thought (hoped) it would be safe to put Turner back - they seemed normal together when I did.

I watched Sparrow all evening and he does seem to be ok so I think we've been lucky. Unfortunately it's probably put our taming back a bit as his last memeory of being out (I didn't get them out last night as I was at work until midnight) is of being in pain and afraid

[souffle]

Goodness Holly what a terrible thing to happen. I know that they can squeeze through very small spaces but I did not realize they could get their skull between those bars. Poor wee man but it does sound like he is OK now. Fortunatly I dont think that hammies have terribly long memories so I feel sure he will forget about it especially if you do not put him back in the pen. A good alternative is a plastic bin. The thing is that if they can squeeze through those bars I would imagine the same thing could happen in a bar cage so really they must not be suitable for dwarf hamsters at all. Dwarfs should be kept in bin or tank type cages with no bars.

[Holly]

Originally Posted by souffle

I know that they can squeeze through very small spaces but I did not realize they could get their skull between those bars.

I know - although I'd read it, I don't think I really believed it possible. Before we got them I told Will we might not be able to use the playpen but, once I saw how big they were (not BIG exactly but they certainly didn't look small enough to squeeze through those bars), I thought, with supervision, it would be ok.

Originally Posted by souffle

Fortunatly I dont think that hammies have terribly long memories so I feel sure he will forget about it especially if you do not put him back in the pen. A good alternative is a plastic bin.

I hope you are right - I'm off to Wilkinson's/the pet shop for supplies and I'm going to buy them a millet spray, some other treats and a larger bowl for their sandbath - I'll take a look at the bins as well for when they are being cleaned out. Will's back this evening and, after tomorrow, I'm on holiday for a week and half so we can work on the taming plan constantly.

Originally Posted by souffle

The thing is that if they can squeeze through those bars I would imagine the same thing could happen in a bar cage so really they must not be suitable for dwarf hamsters at all. Dwarfs should be kept in bin or tank type cages with no bars.

The bar spacings on our playpen are 1.1cm - I assume cages for Dwarf hams have smaller spacings, I'm not sure?? I'm glad they are in the Gabber Rex - the roof grill bars are 1cm apart - I just hope there's no chance of them getting up to roof height?

[Basia]

That's an awful thing to happen Holly. Glad he's ok now.
I found an enormous plastic bin in one of the 'cheap' shops we have here, which I tend to use instead of the playpen now because it means I can take my eye off them for a second without worrying.

[Christine Yule]

1.1 cm and your hamster actually squeezed through! I had only ever read about the dangers of them squeezing through bars! I just measured the distance between the bars of my Habitrail and Space station bars and the distance is exactly 1 cm!

Thank you very much for sharing your experience. As result, I have not revised by opinion about using these barred cages for Dwarves. I have a couple Dwarves in these cages and none have ever tried to squeeze through but clearly they are in danger. Bins and aquariums for them from now on!

So sorry you had such a scare. I would have been horrified too!
I hope we will all think seriously about what happened to you.

Hamstermama

[Holly]

I'm thinking of sharing this experience on the other forums I go to seeing as it's shocking to even seasoned hamster keepers.

He's ok this afternoon by the way - he's just having a good play in the extra large bowl of chinchilla sand I've just put in the cage. He seems none the worse for the experience but it obviously gave him a real fright (not to mention us!) and/or hurt him at the time.

[Christine Yule]

I think you should share your experience on other forums, Holly. It will let other hamster owners know the risks and be better able to make decisions on their own wire caging.

I am so glad to hear the wee fella is doing fine! Whew! That was a close call!

Hamstermama

[pophammy]

Oh no Holly! That is terrible! I think it would be a good idea to share your experience on other forums so others can learn too and hopefully prevent the same from happening to their hams. I'm glad that he is better now.

[bubbles]

o dear poor little hamster. lucky you were there to save him. i hope that he is ok now.

[gizmo]

good to hear he's okay. that would be some scare.