Chalky's almost great escape

[hammielover25]

Yesterday (14/09/13) I went to a local garden centre and fell in love with a 12 week old Syrian hamster, who is full albino and just absolutely adorable. So I went home and got out all my old hammy gear (our old hamsters died last year they did reach a good old age though ) and I for everything ready for him. The following morning i went straight there, and waited for the attendant to come over. He had been working with the snakes so couldn't handle him, so I got to put him in his box his fur was the most soft fur I have Whre felt. The box he was put in was a typical cardboard trans pet box, with small air holes around the top. About 5 mins into the car journey he started eating his way out, and managed to get three huge holes in the box. We still had 20 mins of the journey left :/ by the time we got him back, the box was almost non existent. Is that normal, or is my hammy just a bit of a biter?

[LolaMcMuffin]

My new hammy, Bella, did that! We had to quickly stop at asda on our way home, and halfway round, he head was poking through a hole she chewed in the top! Luckily she didn't escape, although I'm glad we'd popped her in a deep storage bin (minus lid!) just in case!

[BrainGirl]

Hehehe that story took me right back to the day I picked up Brownie several years ago. Luckily I had my bf at the time with me because she went to town on that box. If he hadn't been on hand there would have been an escaped hamster! She ripped so violently at the cardboard that I really wondered what I'd gotten myself into but she turned out to be the sweetest of hamsters. She just didn't like being cooped up

[DrKMcK]

Houdinis reincarnated!!! That's what hammies are . I had gotten Coco and Puff the same day and Coco managed to chew his way out of his box. The store had put both boxes in a shopping bag, so he was still in that bag, and I only had 3 blocks to drive. I drove the whole way with my hand in the bag, hoping he wasn't going to bite me, and driving with the other hand . I just had fits at the idea of him getting loose in the car itself. I learned my lesson though, and Patches, Ted E Bear, Toffee and Almond have all come home in a travel cage I bring with me. As for the biting worry...? Coco and Puff were wonderful boys who never bit me in their whole lives. Miss you little guys

[caro317]

Yep happened to me with my Lemmy a few years back, I was on the bus with him and terrified he'd get out! I learned my lesson after that and bought one of those plastic carry cases with a handle! They really should warn you in the shop.

[Gazmo]

puffle ate his whole box, and I ended up walking through town to the car, then sitting in the car (I wasntt driving ) just holding him

[LolaMcMuffin]

I normally take one with me, only Bella was a bit of a surprise ham! Still, that's how she got her name - she's named Bellatrix after the Harry Potter character who broke out of Azkaban!!!

[Scampi16]

tbh none of my hammies have tried to chew through the boxes they came in (only short journeys, but when buying them on a whim i had to set up cages when I got home and they still never tried to chew their way out?) all but my robo's didn't even want to come out their box when i put them in the cage (in the box) but Bolt & Lightning being so fast and active they were straight out exploring their cage.

[JinjaMakes]

I had the same problem with Harry!

I was petrified it would mean he was a biter, butbjesbnever even nipped me.

I guess that box was quite scary!

[JinjaMakes]

Originally Posted by caro317

Yep happened to me with my Lemmy a few years back, I was on the bus with him and terrified he'd get out! I learned my lesson after that and bought one of those plastic carry cases with a handle! They really should warn you in the shop.

I think you should have to have one before they let you get a hamster. Thankfully my otherhalf came with me when I got Harry, if he hadn't I would have been driving and may not have noticed him getting out the box. I dread to think what could have happened.