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Thread: eating babys

  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran Beardedragon's Avatar
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    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?
    - Matt

    Come here little guy. You're awfully cute and fluffy but unfortunately for you, you're made of meat

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran frankykeno's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    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?
    ~~Joanna~~

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    BPnet Veteran PigsnPythons's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    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.

  4. #4
    BPnet Veteran Beardedragon's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    Quote Originally Posted by frankykeno View Post
    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?

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

    Come here little guy. You're awfully cute and fluffy but unfortunately for you, you're made of meat

  5. #5
    BPnet Veteran frankykeno's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    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.
    ~~Joanna~~

  6. #6
    BPnet Senior Member Mike Cavanaugh's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    Quote Originally Posted by Beardedragon View Post
    Sorry, forgot to add that she was a very pregnant female having her babys... She ate the heads off of four so far.
    how many rats do you have in the tank / tub? are there any other babies?
    Mikey Cavanaugh
    (904) 318-3333

  7. #7
    BPnet Veteran Beardedragon's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    Quote Originally Posted by mcavana View Post
    how many rats do you have in the tank / tub? are there any other babies?

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

    Come here little guy. You're awfully cute and fluffy but unfortunately for you, you're made of meat

  8. #8
    BPnet Veteran frankykeno's Avatar
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    Re: eating 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.
    ~~Joanna~~

  9. #9
    BPnet Senior Member Mike Cavanaugh's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    Don't know. have never experienced that.
    Mikey Cavanaugh
    (904) 318-3333

  10. #10
    BPnet Veteran FIREball's Avatar
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    Re: eating babys

    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.

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