Help - Hamster got under the floor!

Lucina_2

Has anyone got any ideas on how we can find Mr Nibbles.

He escaped from his cage yesterday and got through a gap in the floorboards.

I've removed as many as I can but can't find him. I've heard him scratching around last night but can't get the boards up in that part of the room.

I've put food by the hole, left lights on, sat his cage by the hole, called to him for hours and he's not appeared.

My poor son is really upset and I feel awful thinking that the poor animal may well starve to death under the floor.

Any ideas would be welcome.

Thanks
Lucina x

doodle-bug_2

I've had many hamsters in my earlier days, and several of them ended up like Mr Nibbles. And they all came back!

I would leave a few floor boards up near where he went under, and leave a few peanuts and a small dish of water nearby. You should be able to see in the morning (leave lights off - they are very nocturnal) if he has visited for a snack. If he has, then chances are he will return there again when hungry.

There are then several options open to you. You can leave his cage nearby with his door open and a few choice nibbles leading up to the entrance - he may decide to spend the night there. Or, invest in a humane mousetrap (or rat-trap - they are a bit bigger). He may be waiting for you in there in the morning.

Some people say that a bucket full of soft cloth and food will do the trick - put a ramp of sorts to the top (tiny food treats leading to the top), and when he climbs to the top he will lean over to get to the food on the cloth. If you're lucky, he will then fall in and be unable to get out, as the cloth and hamster will fall to the bottom of the bucket.

I hope you get Mr Nibbles back soon - keep us updated!

Just to let you know that if the hamster has access to food and water, chances are he will find it, and actually enjoy having such freedom! Mine were very grubby when I got them back - took over a week for one of them!!

Lucina_2

Thanks for that Doodle-Bug, I'll certainly give your ideas a try.

I'll lay the trail of peanuts before I go to bed.

I'm making sure his cage, food etc.. are near to where he escaped, so fingers crossed.

I'll keep you posted.

Huge thanks
Lucina x

ziffius

Lucina wrote: »

Has anyone got any ideas on how we can find Mr Nibbles.

He escaped from his cage yesterday and got through a gap in the floorboards.

I've removed as many as I can but can't find him. I've heard him scratching around last night but can't get the boards up in that part of the room.

I've put food by the hole, left lights on, sat his cage by the hole, called to him for hours and he's not appeared.

My poor son is really upset and I feel awful thinking that the poor animal may well starve to death under the floor.

Any ideas would be welcome.

Thanks
Lucina x

As a word of warning. When you catch him and put him back in his cage, you may find all he ever does is try to escape as he knows now that he can escape. I had one who escaped, once he had tasted freedom all he ever did was try to escape and was never really happy after that.

~cleo~

did he come back?

Lucina_2

No not yet, I can't even here him moving around anymore

I'm hanging on for a few more days hoping he'll find his way back if he's not erm gone to a higher place.

Kelinik

Fingers crossed that the wanderer returns. x

kr15snw

Best of luck, just to let you know Hamster are strong little creatures!!

One of my friends lost her hamster and we were all heartbroken. Then over a year later he suddenly turned up!!! Happy, alive and very healthy.

Hell come back, most do

Lucina_2

I hope so, my son wants to get another one in case he doesn't come back!

I'll just have to make sure I have an extra cage for him for when he returns (fingers & toes crossed).

Jo6673

try stronger smelling food- celery worked for us- and a ramp (cushion) up to a box with the food in that there is no way out of
ours escaped again not long after- went to the same place and fell for the same recapture trick!!!

Lucina_2

Thank you Jo6673, I'll try that one today, I've set a ramp with food along it back into his cage, so far no luck, but like you say stronger smelling food may do the trick.

I'll let you know if he reappears.

Many thanks
Lucina x