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Post by rasputin on Feb 21, 2004 9:20:34 GMT -4
What sort of things do hamsters look for in a hiding place?
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Post by Hamsters82 on Feb 21, 2004 12:01:29 GMT -4
Probalby somewhere where its warm & completely conceals themselves from us. You know so we worry our heads off & they pop out from under the bedding, "Look I'm just right here!" Anyway, did you mean in their homes or when they run away?
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Post by rasputin on Feb 21, 2004 20:03:59 GMT -4
In general -- I mean, if it's warm and concealed that they crave, they'll take what matches most closely, either in-cage or free-ranging.
I'm trying to figure out where her most likely bolthole would be outside the tank.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Feb 21, 2004 21:27:18 GMT -4
Oh okay, I've heard that some hammies when they escape go inside the walls, but that seems unlikely. I really don't know what to tell you; I'm trying to think. Would they ever hide under your bed? My dwarves hid a lot & I'm trying to think where they hid in their cages. With Sophie (my syrian) she doesn't do a lot of hiding. Maybe something that looks like a tube you know. Hope some of that helped!
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Post by rasputin on Feb 21, 2004 21:28:54 GMT -4
Unfortunately, I won't know if it helps until I find her. But I really appreciate the advice / pointers.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 21, 2004 22:23:47 GMT -4
Keep talking and talking when you look. One reason I always talk to them when handling is on the rare occasions when they escape they really do come to the sound of my voice. They also come to the sound of tapping.
Be sure he didn't fall behind something and thus can't come (if blocked off).
Leave out peanuts and warm scrambled eggs. they love the smell. When they do smell it they usually come running, even if they were sleeping.
Good luck.
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Post by rasputin on Feb 21, 2004 23:38:58 GMT -4
There are a lot of things she could have gotten behind -- but when we move them, she isn't there.
We have now searched just about everywhere in the apartment. The only place we can't get to is a one-inch space behind the kitchen cabinets, where she may have crawled.
If she's gone into there, I don't know how far that space goes or where she could wind up -- possibly she could go anywhere in the building, depending on how useless the maintenance folks have been throughout the years.
I put out peanut butter -- I mainly want to get her attention, not necessarily catch her -- if I can just get her to show a sign that she still wanders the apartment, I'll be relieved.
Alas, last night three food dishes in three areas were untouched -- and untouched while I was at work today, too.
Maybe the PB will get her attention, where yogurt drops and her favorite seed mixes have not.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 22, 2004 2:31:04 GMT -4
Better alert the mainenance folks, and maybe some neighbors. Even if in some crawlspace there are certain food smells that draw them like magnets. They also go for lettuce and broccoli. Warm it up a little first (not too much or it gets mushy) in a microwave - warm food smells more.
I know Jeannie used a humane trap to catch that mouse who was visiting Puck, and I wonder if such things exist for hamsters. With the right bait. . .
(I just realized that mouse must have squeezed through the bars of Puck's Habitrail? That's possible?).
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Post by cognac on Feb 22, 2004 3:53:39 GMT -4
HungHung always went for behind and under the fridge. I'll give you a call and I can give you the bucket trap. Cognac
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Post by rasputin on Feb 22, 2004 3:58:05 GMT -4
I know the bucket trap technique -- I hate to put her in a bucket when I'm not around to comfort her -- she actually took some food while I was away watching movies at my bro's house -- I'm keeping watch for her now and can outwait her tonight. We'll see what happens next -- I feel much better now that she's eaten.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 22, 2004 4:06:47 GMT -4
That's what I should have called Zeb! ;D I just had an escape!!I heard this big crash in the Rodent Room: one of the add ons to the Habitrail had slipped owing to hamster movement and crashed four feet to the floor. Makeeda was loose! Solution? I bent down, called her name several times, tapped a little on some wood, and she walked right over calm as could be. She got a big kiss on the nose. It really is sweet to have such a docile friendly crew. Best of luck with Havix. Too bad they can't be tracked electronically somehow.
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Post by dosergirl on Feb 23, 2004 0:49:23 GMT -4
something i heard once was to put the food in the middle of a flattened plastic bag, so when she runs onto to get the food you will hear her.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 23, 2004 0:58:48 GMT -4
Before they started coming right up to me, I HEARD them before I saw them. Crinkly paper works.
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Post by jeannie on Feb 23, 2004 12:00:48 GMT -4
DF, yep, the mouse got in through the bars of the Space Station - they can squeeze through very small openings. When I put Puck in a tank, the mouse got into an attachment, so now Puck is in a 20 gallon tank with no attachments.
So glad Havix was found. That must be a relief. Hope she's doing well!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 23, 2004 22:31:30 GMT -4
If mice (or other rodents) can get their head through an opening everything else will follow. It is remarkable. Makeeda today cracked one of the joints of her SS explorer and was attempting an escape. I think it was the one Zenobia cracked months ago, weakening it. Anyway, the top was moving, so a five pound barbell plate has secured the explorer's top. (All my paper weights are already in use in various bins). My whole crew are turning into little dogs - they keep running up to me and never away.
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