Why the heck do hamsters eat each other?

When I was living with my boyfriend, he had this box of hamsters right??? And everytime one of them have little hamster babies, the others or sometimes the mom herself would eat them. Biting their heads off and all.

And another week past, I saw something black and flat laying in the box I’m like wth is this? And it turned out to be a smashed flat dead hamster. They ate him!!!

And this went on for the longest til they all ate each other.

Why do they do this? And are their any big hamsters out their like a guinea pig?

Answer #1

They’re animals - their job, their nature.

Answer #2

Maybe they know something you don’t. Have you ever tried a baby hamster? They’re delicious!

Answer #3

That’s really disgusting but yea I agree I think its the overcrowding problem

Answer #4

OVERCROWDING…period…Split them up, and they won’t fight for space. They sleep piled up on each other…just like pigs…the bottom one thinks he’s got a good warm place, but instead they get smothered…once dead eating it is a natural way of “cleaning up”…

There is no way for the mother’s to protect their young in a overcrowded cage…when they are born, take them out, and put them in a cage of their own…till they’ve got hair…

p

Answer #5

Well, 1st off they’re not mines. Secondly I don’t give a damn about hamsters much. And neither does anybody in the house. The old owner just left them there and all we knew what to do was give them water and lots of food. Sorry I’m not experienced at raising little rats. THATS WHY I’M ASKING.

Answer #6

Ugh no it’s not their nature. It’s because you shouldn’t have a male and a female and all their babies cramped in the same cage. They’re just fighting for territory. You need to have the babies in their separate cage. And stop breeding them, it’s disgusting to continue to let her get pregnant if you know her babies end up getting eaten. That’s more gross in my opinion letting it keep happen and watching it.

Answer #7

Toadaly, that was Great huhu!!! Ok I think you don’t give them enough food so they doesn’t satisfy and still hungry. So the food is cheap buy more food 4 your hamsters

Answer #8

Most times they will do that kind of thing because they sense something wrong with the babies.

After a mother hamster gets pregnant you have to seperate them from the males. They get stressed. That will cause them to eat their young as well. And the males try to take over.

Answer #9

They may do it if they are over crowded as well as knowing something is wrong with their babys. Maybe its jelousy in the box?? I would take the new mom and the babys out and have them in their own cage and when new ones are born give them lots of quiet time and dont get in their road. Also dont touch the babys.

More Like This
Advisor

Pets and Animals

Pet Care, Animal Behavior, Veterinary Medicine