rodent cannibalism

[basketcase]

any1 ever had any cases of this ?

i recently had to euthanise a fuzzy that had had some of its fur eaten off its back by its mum, quite disgusting i can assure you

[jimmy_the_kid]

alot of mothers will eat there baby rats or mice if there is to many for her

[moosenoose]

They just realizing how tasty & delicious they really are LOL

[peterescue]

I went away for a while and had someone come in and feed and water the rats.
One cage only had 2 adults in it and about 10 hoppers. Should have been 3 adults.
I found the missing rat's skull when I cleaned out the cage. There was nothing else left at all.
She was getting on so I guess she died and the family ate her out of a deep respect.
Peter

[Farkurnell]

First time mothers are notorious for eating their litters. I've had heaps of mine killed and eaten in the past. I wish I knew why it happens but it just does.





Greg.

[Nome]

Hi,

I've heard they do this because the babies are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals from the mother not being mature/healthy enough when she was pregnant. She knows they won't survive or if they do, be unhealthy or retarded, so she eats them to use the extra vitamins for her next pregnancy. Nature's way, I suppose. Also, the mice/rats will often eat their babies if you have touched them at all.

Anyway, that is what I have read, correct me if I am wrong.

~N

[Pinkie]

You're right Nome
Lots of animals do this.

[Farkurnell]

Originally Posted by Nome

I've heard they do this because the babies are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals from the mother not being mature/healthy enough when she was pregnant.

You may be right in some cases but for me I can't see how that could be. My Rats are fed extremely well and are all in good health. As far as touching the babies is concerned I can't fully agree with that either. I have had whole litters eaten a few days after being born without being touched by anyone. Mine only get touched once a week while their tubs are cleaned. I still haven't been able to pinpoint the reason but in my case it's neither of the reasons mentioned.




Greg.

[Pinkie]

Greg it could also be the fact that the rats are pumping out littler after litter. Like they may be well fed and cared for but after having eleventy gazillion litters they might be lacking in some sort of vitamins/minerals/healthiness aspects.

About half an hour ago a i discovered an adult mouse compltely skinned by its cage mates...disgusting

[Nome]

Greg,

See here:


http://www.horns.freeserve.co.uk/mou...20her%20babies

And scroll down to 'My mouse ate her babies - what happened?'

Explains a litte about why this happens.

~N

[Farkurnell]

Originally Posted by Pinkie

Greg it could also be the fact that the rats are pumping out littler after litter. Like they may be well fed and cared for but after having eleventy gazillion litters they might be lacking in some sort of vitamins/minerals/healthiness aspects.

True Laura that's why I rotate my female breeders. I let them have 6-8 litters and then bring through younger females.





Greg.

[Pinkie]

Oh aren't you a nice daddy

[zoe]

we had mice in science in school and we were told not to touch the babies cos the mums would eat them...and sure enuf the twats that touched them had sentenced them to an early death

[Magpie]

I have never ever ever had a rat or mouse eat the babies due to me touching them. I have taken babies of all sizes from one mother / tub and put the with another mother / tub and never have they eaten or refused to feed the new addition. When I have had babies eaten, it's always without them having been handled by humans as it is always when they are newborn pinkies. A lot of the time, they smother the babies by accident and once the babies are dead, they eat them (garbage disposal.) Sometimes if there is more than one mum per tub, they fight over the babies and the babies don;t get enough milk and becomes weak or die.