eating babys

I found one very pregnant female eating her babys today, but why? Im using labdiet labblocks as food, full water bottle, wheel, pine, and a peice of wood to chew on. This is her first litter, could that be why?

She's pregnant and eating her last litter or is she delivering them at eating them at birth? Sorry I'm a bit confused.

Also did you see her just eating one or a whole bunch of them?

Maybe there was something wrong with them that only she could sense? Maybe she's just confused since it was her first litter? My girl ate her first litter also, and then went on to produce many many healthy babies.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

She's pregnant and eating her last litter or is she delivering them at eating them at birth? Sorry I'm a bit confused.

Also did you see her just eating one or a whole bunch of them?

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Sorry, forgot to add that she was a very pregnant female having her babys... She ate the heads off of four so far.

Yewww well that's just nasty to see isn't it. If she's otherwise healthy, in a good colony situation then it may just be first time breeder issues. She may well go on to have many successful litters for you. I'd watch her, however, to make sure she doesn't go after any other female's offspring and if you catch her at it...feed her off. If she breeds again and starts in on her offspring like this again at birth....feed her off.

Sometimes they will eat one or two if they are weak babies or have a genetic fault and that's okay and normal for female rodents of any kind to do.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Sorry, forgot to add that she was a very pregnant female having her babys... She ate the heads off of four so far.

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how many rats do you have in the tank / tub? are there any other babies?

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Originally Posted by mcavana

how many rats do you have in the tank / tub? are there any other babies?

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This is a 1.4 group in a 20 gallon tank, and no other babys.

That tanks more than big enough then. It may just be that she has no idea or experience with offspring. Female rats eat the afterbirth (it's good for them) and some of them on the first go round, well...they just don't stop nibbling to put it bluntly.

Watch her around her next newborns or other newborns in your colony that come along. That should show whether this was a one time event or she's a rat you don't need in a breeding group.

Don't know. have never experienced that.

Ive had a mom eat babies before, well they were a couple weeks old. She wasnt eating them alive but after they already died, not sure what happened but 4 out of 12 babies survived the others died all within a week of each other. Since then all other litters from her have been fine.