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My Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamster just had 5 babies yesterday. I left the male in, because I've heard that in this species he helps deliver the babies(he did, btw, for anyone who was wondering). About an hour ago I went to change the food and water and I noticed that one baby was dead. It looked like it had been squashed! The mother hamster is now keeping all the babies in seperate corners of the cage and is constantly running on the excercise wheel rather than taking care of the babies. The father is keeping one of them warm, but keeps burying two others in bedding. Should I take them out and hand feed them until they are old enough to eat solid food? Or should I just let nature take its course? Help would be greatly appreciated, seeing as these animals could easily die at any minute... Thanks!

2006-07-18 15:34:55 · 9 answers · asked by kd_walker684 2 in Pets Other - Pets

I've decided to keep the male in with the babies and mother, because I know that even if this litter doesn't survive, there might be other litters. Plus, I've heard that if you seperate mates, they become really depressed. The mother is now somewhat gathering up the babies and putting them back in the nest, but she still isn't feeding them again. I think the last time I saw them nurse was probably about 4 hours ago. I would take the chance of hand raising them, but I have to go to the little league world series this week so they will all be staying with my aunt and she won't be able to hand feed them.... All this is making me really nervous. I've never had a litter do this before, and I've been raising and breeding hamsters for about 3 years! Of course, this is my first time with Campbell's, but still, it's not that new to me! Thanks for all the help, guys. And if you have any more comments or answers, please feel free to answer.

2006-07-18 16:04:49 · update #1

Okay, so I DID decide to take the male out. He just started attacking the female, so I had to. I also tried feeding one of the babies kitten-replacement-milk from an eyedropper(i rubbed the bedding from the cage all over my hands first, so it would hide my scent) but the baby wouldn't open its mouth! I honestly have no clue what to do now, since I can't feed the babies with an eyedropper. The mother is only feeding two babies herself, so the other two are off in a corner by themselves, probably freezing. I feel so bad for them!

2006-07-18 17:06:16 · update #2

9 answers

is this the mother's first litter? If she is not nursing them then you will have to hand raise them. Dad hamster is doing what he is supposed to but if mom isn't feeding them then they will die. Most first litters have problems. The mom's sometimes eat all of them and then they never do that again. Strange but must be needed for them to be able to reproduce. Yes, do remove the dead baby and keep an eye on how she is doing with them. I personally would just keep them in with their parents and let nature take it's course because of what I said before about first time mother's being terrible parents. Hand raising new born anything is tough because of the request feedings required. Good luck and let me know if you want to sell any cause I love the breed of hamster you have. I have a rescue teddy bear that is like an old man with loosing his hair with age, but he is still a sweetie.

2006-07-18 15:49:38 · answer #1 · answered by MotherNature 4 · 1 0

Hamsters actually make pretty poor parents, sadly. Most people dont realize though that hamsters have a knack for eating the young that is ill or underdevoped or babies that wouldnt have survived anyway. That is why out of 5, she will probably raise only 2 maybe 3 of them.

I would let her do her job, however, if you are really concerned about it, check up on how to wean a hamster & see what you can do for them.
ps--if you dont want anymore babies, seperate the parents immediately. She could actually get pregnant again right away & have more in about 36 days or so.

2006-07-18 15:39:59 · answer #2 · answered by emvannattan 3 · 0 0

I'm not an expert on hamster but I've been told that the mother will eat their babies. My brother had lots before but he's not here right now. I'd just let nature take its course and they should be alright. I've always been told when the babies are born not to have other hamsters in the cage except the mother. I hope you get more information and nothing else call a pet store and ask them. Good Luck.

2006-07-18 15:44:12 · answer #3 · answered by PrettyGirl29 2 · 0 0

Yes. Take the male out. Hamsters are notorious cannibals. All of those babies will be gone if you don't take him out. You could even take the babies out, and put them in a seperate tank. Take a wash cloth and put it into the microwave, and heat it. Use the warm cloth, wrapped in others, to keep the babies warm. You can feed them with eyedroppers. It'll be a pain. Good luck.

2006-07-18 16:08:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Yesh.. Take the babies out immediately..
But b careful, the mother hamster will bite ur hand.
Use a glove k..

Take gd care of the babies hamster

2006-07-18 15:39:59 · answer #5 · answered by CL 2 · 0 0

Maybe the babies are sick or that one is sick. I'd let nature take it's course cruel as it may seem. Chances are if dad is in there and she's mated you may have some other ones in about a month.

2006-07-18 16:22:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

take the male out if it is not to late for you to save the rest i had this happen when i was little i remember oh what a sight the mother will kill all her baby's if you don't the male you half to separate the male may be a good daddy but as long as he is their she will want nothing to do with them and will wind up killing them all.

2006-07-18 15:44:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

hamster do this quite a bit. If you remove them and hand feed them they will probably all die. The male did it. Take him out.

2006-07-18 15:40:03 · answer #8 · answered by Birdlegs 5 · 0 0

i would take them out and call a vet about this behaviour

2006-07-18 15:39:36 · answer #9 · answered by tigger 2 · 0 0

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