MY hamster is a cannibal??

Question

My hamster recently gave birth to her babies.. then afeter a few hours I saw her EATING HER YOUNG!! was there something i did/ did not do??

Answer 1

She's not a cannibal, she's a hamster. Hamsters don't live by human standards so we shouldn't JUDGE them that way either.

What she did was normal -- to her.

There are several possible reasons for her behavior. If she is very young and this is her first litter, she might have felt overwhelmed and not able to take care of the babies. Or she might be in some sort of stress -- over-crowded, underfed, no privacy, feeling sick, whatever. Or, she might have known there was something wrong with the babies.

In each case, she knew that she couldn't take care of the babies and eating them was the only thing she knew to do.

You will probably never know WHY she did what she did. I hope you don't intend to keep breeding her, ESPECIALLY if you bred her on purpose. Honestly, you shouldn't bring new life into the world unless you REALLY know what you are doing -- and by your question, I assume you are new at this. If her pregnancy was accidental -- well, it happens.

Try not to let her behavior change the way you feel about her. She was doing what she thought was best. Good luck.

EDIT: Touching the babies will NOT make the mother reject or eat them!! This is a MYTH. It will not make WILD animals reject their young either!! In fact, when talking about pets, it's BETTER to handle the babies after the first couple of days -- that's how you make nice, tame, well-socialized pets.

Answer 2

Hmmm, the only strange element to me is that 2 died on the comparable time. the single that replaced into eaten, replaced into maximum probable already lifeless while the others (or the relax stay one) began eating it. replaced into there a draft, unusual temperature, some thing they could have choked on? despite it replaced into, i do no longer think of it replaced into the residing one that killed the different 2. interior the wild, lifeless or bleeding animals appeal to predators. If a hamster is in an enclosed area (ie a cage) with some thing that doubtlessly will appeal to a predator, it's going to decide to do away with it the only way it knows how. As for procuring new hamsters, i does not. enable your final dwarf stay out it is existence on my own. Introducing new hamsters after being with in common terms those 2 for see you later would be no longer difficulty-free (even regardless of the undeniable fact that no longer impossible). she would be fantastic on my own in case you supply her interest and shield her desires. Sorry approximately your different 2 hammies. Edit: in comparison to Syrian hamsters, some styles of dwarf hamsters do stay peacefully mutually if given sufficient cage area. After residing mutually for 4 months, i do no longer think of it replaced right into a territory dispute.

Answer 3

i feel your pain. When my hamster gave birth she had 12 babies but she was trying to eat them . The reason for this is because she was to imature to give bith(she was too young she was 4 months) and plus people were around watching her babies . But do not take the babies out yet this might get her real upset. I took the babie out the cage from the mother (big mistake) and hand fed them but they all DIED because they needed the mother heat.

so if you decide take the babies out just note they have no chance of living .you take them out and take them to the vet the vet might put the babies in a incubater this provides heat for the babies and the vet will know how to feed them better than you do

Answer 4

No, this is normal. Not all hamsters will do this but some will. It could be a vitamin deficiency, but in most cases that is just what they do. I used to breed dwarf hamsters and a few did do this. They are so small even if you try to save the babies they usually pass away too no matter what you do. Trust me, I tried everything. I personally stopped letting the females that did this from breeding. It kinda hurt my feelings because I love animals so much.

Answer 5

You didn't do anything wrong unless you touched the babies. Your hamster was most likely stressed. Hamsters eat their babies when their babies contain human scent, when they are stressed, or when something is wrong with their young. Next time make sure you quietly place her in a quiet enviornment. Also, it may be wise to separate the papa. Best of luck =)

Answer 6

Reproduction

Hamsters become fertile at different ages dependent on their species, but this can be from 1 month to 3 months of age. Male hamsters remain fertile for the rest of their lives, though females do not. Females are "on heat" approximately every three days.

Gestation lasts 16-18 days for Syrian hamsters, 18-21 days for the Russian hamsters, 21-23 days for Chinese hamsters and 23-30 for Roborovski Hamsters. The average litter for Syrians is about 7, but can be as great as 24, which is the maximum number of pups that can be contained in the uterus. Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters tend to have 4-8 in a litter but can have up to 14. Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters tend to have slightly smaller litters, as do Chinese and Roborovski hamsters.

Hamsters are born hairless and blind in a nest which the mother will have prepared in advance. After 1 week they begin to explore outside the nest. They are completely weaned after 3 weeks, or 4 for Roborovski Hamsters.

thats whats normal form hamsters

Answer 7

Hamsters are known to do this and I am unsure what would need to be done for baby hamsters once you separate them from the mother. Call the local vet and see what you should do to take care of any surviving babies. Sorry that you had to see anything like that. Best of luck to you!

Answer 8

from working in a pet store I have seen it done. Hamsters and many other rodents if they sience that her young is in danger ( example they feel like there is a predator in the room or something) they will eat their young. Also if they can tell there is something wrong with their young they will also consume their kids you did not do anything wrong so dont fret

Answer 9

yes hamsters eat their young...all rodents do it.
Sometimes it's because all the babies are 'wrong' somehow...or she never knew her own mother (so doesn't know babies aren't to be eaten). Maybe she thought YOU might kill or hurt her babies ( yes I know you wouldn't do that...but I'm not a hamster either)....take her to the vet and ask if she's Ok...she might have made herself sick eating all those babies and ask if she'll do it again...( I wouldn't let her have babies, if she were my hamster).

Answer 10

It's very normal....If the the hamster was immature or not ready to have pups then she will eat all.....Or if one of the hamster got to survive or is dead then the mother will eat it not to let any other creatures to come to her nest......Or if u were bother the mother and she felt insecure so she eats her pups....Maybe One Of These Are The Reason