I couldnt believe what i was seeing!!my hamster just recently had babys and when i went to go check up on her and the babies i watched in horror!she was killing her babies!i mean she was actualy eating them!It was so digusting!first she bit the neck(like a freaking vampire) and just left the body and ate the head!she didnt kill all of them but most of them she did,and the ones that managed to survive now that they have grown a bit,well.....now they are killing each other!!i mean come on baby hamsters killing baby hamsters that just freaky!!i dont know what i did wrong cause i put the cage somewhere where its calm and silient so no one can bother her, i gave her plenty of food and water and most importantly i didnt put one finger on her babies, i didnt touch them i swear!well im kinda freaking out right here,so if you guys have answers as to why they do this PLEASE let me know...
2006-06-14 15:44:36 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Well I know in nature most of the times animals will kill their children that something is wrong with or don't think will be strong enough to survive. You might want to call up a vet and ask them what you can do with the ones that are still a live.
2006-06-14 15:50:29 · answer #1 · answered by CPSweetie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are actually a few reasons this could have happened. It sounds like you did most everything correctly, though you should separate them when they get old enough - hamsters are very territorial and will fight to protect what they believe is their territory.
As for the mother eating her young, she might have been too young herself to raise a litter, she might have felt the litter was too big to handle, or she might have felt some of her babies were too weak or sickly to bother raising. Another reason could be that she felt threatened, but from your description, it doesn't seem to be the case. Unfortunately this, while not really common, is natural behaviour for hamsters. Right now what you should do is separate them all - hamsters like their own space - and keep caring for them as you have been doing. Good luck! :)
2006-06-14 15:57:00 · answer #2 · answered by Sharon M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well because maybe during in the night, the lizards scare her or she have the crave to eat her babies or she wants attention from you or she wants a change of food or she has gone mad best way to cure her before she eat the rest of the babies bring a vet to your house and check on her or simply seperate the baby from the mama Just one Question did you cover the cage with cloth at night coz if you do then it is not the lizard problem. Before the vet comes, make sure she remains calm. About the baby eating one another i believe you are kidding well if it is true then the mother is not feeding them and they are desperate for food so they eat each other can you tell me what breed your hamsters are?
st, the future vet (so far studying to be one)
2006-06-27 20:08:21 · answer #3 · answered by changed preferences... 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Occasionally a female may eat her own babies. This is not common and there is usually a reason for this behaviour. The most common reason is the breeding of a very young female (under 4 months of age). The female is quite simply too immature to cope with rearing a litter and destroys the babies.
2006-06-14 15:55:40 · answer #4 · answered by FreddyBoy1 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hammies are not at their best when it comes to thinking. It may have been a food issue or a percieved lack of space or just 'cause the voices told her to. I believe you didn't touch them but is it possible you had guests? Your other answerer is right in that rats are terrific moms and very forgiving. They often have the friendly attitude of an old dog rather than that hamster paranoia. I admit hams are cuter but handsome is as handsome does.
2006-06-28 06:48:33 · answer #5 · answered by Laura B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time rodent mother's will eat their young if they perceive a threat to them or her, or if there is a genetic defect in the babies, they can sense that so they kill them early on its a kind of natural selection.
Fish do the same thing sometimes.
2006-06-24 06:02:38 · answer #6 · answered by hch 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is caused by inbreeding , I bet those parents are brother and sister and their parents were brother and sister. YOu know pet shops breed their own babies and put them all together and sell them as a pair but don't tell you they were litter mates. Go get another from a different store and try again.... good luck
2006-06-14 15:50:33 · answer #7 · answered by lilmisdixiestar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hamsters work in a similar way to rabbits. If a mother hamster deems that her living quarters will not support too many extra hamsters, she will take out as many as she feels necessary to make sure her area will not be too crowded.
2006-06-14 15:53:18 · answer #8 · answered by Kayla 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are known to eat their own babies if you dont keep enough food in the cage with them and fresh water everyday. Otherwise they have nothing else to eat otherthen the babies she doesnt want them to starve to death so she feeds herself. Keep alot of food and water in the cage from now on otherwise she will eat them to survive herself.
2006-06-27 15:46:48 · answer #9 · answered by reasonable-sale-lots 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had a rabbit do the same thing - i think there were a few possible reasons 1) she was just too young to be a mom 2) there was something wrong with them or 3) she was feeling unsafe of her surroundings ? nature is sometimes weird & cruel
2006-06-14 15:50:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋