Tino's thread

[Maz]

Tino and Higgins both had a partial cage clean last night. Higgins was in the playpen for ages while I did his cage and Tino was extremely miffed and sat glaring at the front of his cage.

Eventually it was Tino's turn in the playpen, and he still gets miles of pleasure out of that little forage box, every time he's out So I sat with him for a bit, and had him on the sofa for a bit (and he sits still for strokes unlike Higgins, which is really nice), and then I left him to do his thing in the playpen while I started cleaning out one end of his cage. Kept popping back to see if he was ok. I had almost finished, but needed to put a few things back in, when I looked in the playpen and couldn't see him! He had escaped, the little tinker. He walked past my foot and under a chair. I tried putting the tube partly under the chair but no Tino. Couldn't find him. I was having a bit of a deja vu, as some of you might remember his last escape! When he spent all night under a sofa and we couldn't get him out (and daren't move it), but he's older and bolder now, so after a while he appeared and had a good run around and was about to head behind the TV. So I offered him his tube and he just walked into as usual. That was a relief. I will probably start letting him free roam now anyway but I need to put a permanent barrier up in one corner near his cage to let him have free rein. I had quickly blocked that off once I realised he'd escaped and he was at the other end of the room.

So how did he escape? He knocked over his carrot cottage so it ended up right next to the edge of the playpen. I swear it was a good distance from the edge and I reckon he must have pushed it there! Although it could have been accidental. Anyway it was clear how he climbed out. He had to go back in the playpen while I put his cage back together again and he was determined to try and get out again after that taste of freedom!

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[Socks' Mum]

Oh Tino, you do give Mom a fright now and then He is looking wonderful. What a clever hammy Glad he came back out easily this time!

 

[Maz]

He is well trained to walk into a tube However he did have a moment of thinking about ignoring it - then changed his mind

I noticed his colouring is getting a bit lighter on his back.

 

[ilguy]

Free roaming in a safe area is so great, they're geared to explore and forage. Hope Tino has a blast on future adventures

 

[Hank]

Great to see Tino, he is keeping you on your toes

 

[Maz]

Thank you ilguy and Hank Yes it was quite late last night when he wanted out, so it was just the playpen again as I was tired, but he now spends most of the time trying to get out of it, now he's had a taste of freedom! Tries to chew the bottom of it. But if it's too late at night, I don't want to be having to try and find him if he disappears and OH has gone to bed! Try again tonight, if it's a bit earlier.

 

[Maz]

He really does like sitting for strokes and having the back of his ears stroked He's a big softie. However, on the sofa he still bats me away if I try and pick him up when he's trying to get somewhere he shouldn't go! Although he didn't free roam the floor last night, he did free roam the sofa a bit. He has always struggled to get a grip climbing the sofa (maybe because he's so large), but last night he climbed all the way to the top! He wasn't easy to handle until he was almost a year old though.

 

[ilguy]

He really does like sitting for strokes and having the back of his ears stroked He's a big softie. However, on the sofa he still bats me away if I try and pick him up when he's trying to get somewhere he shouldn't go! Although he didn't free roam the floor last night, he did free roam the sofa a bit. He has always struggled to get a grip climbing the sofa (maybe because he's so large), but last night he climbed all the way to the top! He wasn't easy to handle until he was almost a year old though.

It's funny that hamsters love climbing so much even though they have awful depth perception. What about using a blanket or some clothes to build a way up to the sofa from the floor for him?

 

[Maz]

Well I'm hoping to just do away with the playpen and let him have the floor. Slightly concerned he might jump from a height from the sofa! He does try and climb up my leg from the playpen though

 

[Maz]

Tino last night. A bit of time on the sofa. A very short cuddle (he wasn’t really in the mood although did sit on my knee for a bit as well). Gave him his Omlet hide which he ignored completely. He was more interested in trying to get out of the playpen or under it, and his carrot cottage. Sniffed the Omlet hide but it didn’t have food on top like the carrot cottage so he ignored it again. Flipped over his mini forage box so it spilled everywhere. Eventually he did climb on top of the Omlet hide but was clearly just looking over the top of the playpen wondering if he could get out from the top of it.

Excuse the tube of toothpaste on the sofa

 

[Socks' Mum]

He's a Sensodyne guy, very sensible to take care of the teeth He's keen to free roam but perhaps it's not suitable for him yet

 

[Maz]

Well the room has been hamsterproofed for free roaming - he just needs to come out at the right time of night! When it gets too late, I stick to the playpen so I don't end up being up all night trying to find him!

 

[Maz]

I had to be up very early this morning - so maybe next time? If he gets up early enough! He's been hiding away a bit with the hot weather. Although hasn't been sitting in his ceramic hide.

 

[Socks' Mum]

He will be pleased when he has his free roam. No buckets and books this time

 

[ilguy]

Aw that's the worst, having to turn down an adventure. Henry did this to me last night, was demanding a second adventure at 11 pm but just had to go to bed.

Tino is just craving the free roaming, I'm excited to see or hear about it when he gets the chance. He's looking good though!

 

[Maz]

Yes he was quite happy in the playpen until he escaped from it recently And it is a really large playpen. Now he's not interested and only interested in working out how to get out of it.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Socks likewise. I missed doing the playpen the night before last. But he's not strong enough to chew, monkey bar and bar bite now, he just sits and stares. So I made a point of our rendezvous last night. I can't remember what time it was, just something about Socks looking joyous on his wheel and running away like a youngster

 

[Maz]

So Tino is free roaming. Being a contrary hamster - there was no challenge to get out of the playpen with no playpen there and he just walked into his snooze cube on the floor and sat in it for ages. I put all his usual playpen items on the floor in the usual playpen area but just no playpen.

Eventually he sort of sauntered off to the sectioned off part of the room near his cage. Where there is another part playpen wall blocking off that corner. And that was yet another challenge. Trying to get over that. But he didn’t try for long - just thoroughly checked it out!

Instead of being excited abd zooming around he slowly sauntered. Disappeared for a while then seemed to speed up a bit running round the edges of the room. Now he’s disappeared into the dark cluttered area under the stairs again. So whether I get him back tonight remains to be seen!

It’s all gone quiet and no sign of him. He is such a sneaky hamster!

He came out after a while and went behind the tv cabinet which used to be Raffy’s favourite place - then back along the room to the cluttered area under the stairs.

And then - as I had hoped - he homed back to my feet and the playpen items - sniffed them and then headed to the (blocked off) kitchen door.

So he’s gradually exploring everything. Hopefully he’ll come back to my feet again (familiarity) ….. and walk into his tube.

And he did

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