Gerbil eating her pups?

[NedIsNotOnFire]

So I just walked into my room to check on Nezumi to have found that all her pups were scattered everywhere, and that one of them had been half eaten?? Does anyone have an explanation for this? The only thing I can think of is that it was the smallest of the group, and earlier I had taken out tried to move them into the nesting box so they were warmer, but she moved them back out again? Is the going to eat them all now? Is she going to abandon them now? Is there anything I can do at all to help them?? Or possibly save them from their mum?

Please say soon, this is kind of urgent incase I need to do something soon

[NedIsNotOnFire]

Okay, so I read up that it is most likely related to stress. Is there anything I can do to make her feel mire relaxed and less stressed? Like adding something or doing something to help? She is scratching/biting/digging a lot more than normal... She's also being far more active than she normally is..


Okay so she has seemed to have stopped paying attention to them too, like at the moment she is just kicking them around everywhere, and digging right in top of them... I put them back into their nesting box so it isn't as bad as before, but they're still being beaten up
Whats the likihood of her eating all of them now?

[johanne]

It's pretty hard to respond to this without knowing what sort of home she's in, what's in it, what's around it, how old is she, who else is with her, etc. Pictures would help. Something is likely wrong in her environment. The one she ate was most likely already dead or dying by the time she ate it. You could try a towel over one side of the tank. It may be best that you not interfere with the pups while she's so stressed out. It's also possible she was taken too early from her mom and/or she didn't inherit good parenting skills.

[NedIsNotOnFire]

She's alone at the moment, she is 9 months old, and she is in a small tank area (I'll get some pics up soon). I did what you said and she does seem to have calmed down... And the pups have been fine, no more than half an hour ago I was sitting with her reading a little bit of a book (I do this practically everyday so that the gerbils don't get spooked when I'm talking to friends on Skype), I inky went to get dinner to find that she had eaten one

[NedIsNotOnFire]

Also, does anyone know of anyways to reduce the risk of RI? So, for example, how would I make sure there's little to no dust in the cage? And what are other factors that will cause RI?

[Shooting Star]

RI is often just a result of a bad immune system. Avoid excess dust, obviously, but there's not much more. Make sure they aren't handled by any sick humans, though the likelihood of them catching an RI from a human is extremely low.

[NedIsNotOnFire]

Okay, thank you xx 

[NedIsNotOnFire]

Okay, so Nezumi seems to be acting a bit better toward her pups, but i'm still uncertain as to if that might change... Is it likely she will do it again? I read somewhere that once they get a taste for meat they keep eating them, but i thought it sounded like a load of bs...

Here are the pictures as promised: - i have moved out a lot of bedding since the photo as i was worrying she might lose them in the mass of it, like before - - oh, and she can only access the top half as the bottom is closed off, the water bottle is there incase of emergency (if she breaks the one she has now) - 



The little 6 beans:

[daisy]

As a last resort, you could try hand-rearing them. You would need to research how to do that.  Also, I don't think I would remove much bedding.  The mother might feel unsafe if her normal amount of bedding isn't available to hide in.

Daisy

[Shooting Star]

Hand-rearing is an absolute last resort, especially with pups so young. I've done it for a couple days until a foster-mom gave birth, or when pups were already 3+ weeks. Long-term hand-rearing from a young age has a high failure rate, so you're often better off leaving them with mom even if she's not taking the best care of them.

[NedIsNotOnFire]

Okay, I'll leave them with her then. Do you think that after this incident it will be a lot harder to really 'bond' with the pups incase she does the same thing? So basically, do I have to be extra careful with her and them now? Like when taking pictures and weighing them I should be a lot more careful about, or just not do it at all??

Thank you xxxx

[crittercrazy]

Same thing happened to me with Pepper's first litter. I think its possible that she did it because I had handled that pup twice (to move it back to the nest) and since she was already stressed out, that was just the last straw. Or the pup was sick/died on its own.

Actually, I would not suggest handling the pups at all (unless you need to) until they are 5 days old. How old are they now? I'm kinda of the opinion that until they reach about a week old, you may want to refrain from pictures, handling, etc. Especially since she doesn't have a helper (the male or a pup from an earlier litter) which may be making it more stressful for her.
Oh and I don't think your question got answered- no that is definitely not true about them getting a taste for meat and wanting more.

It probably won't happen again- the pup was probably already sick or dead and if it wasn't, then so long as you reduce any possible stress things she go fine.
Hope all goes well!!

[NedIsNotOnFire]

The pups are 11 days old, and i hadn't even had the bravery to look at them properly until they were about 3 days old xD I can't think about anything that would stress Nezumi out... Hmmm.... and the pups was definitely fine, i was only gone 30 mins and i returned to blood in the cage and the muzzle of the poor lil guy. Also, after having a closer peek at the beans today, i learned that it was't the runt she ate either so this whole thing is a bit of a mystery :s
Thank goodness that thing about them getting the taste for meat was untrue otherwise that would be a bit of trouble...

Is there any 'good' time to begin handling them? I already read to them, so they can get use to my voice (if they can even here me yet xD) but i don't want them to be alienated to human touch or smell, but then again i don't want to stress out Nezumi...

Thank you by the way xx

The beans today: 

[crittercrazy]

Even if it wasn't the runt, it could have easily been sick or something.
As far as something that would stress Nezumi out, it doesn't take much. Being alone and this being her first litter could do it- Pepper was very stressed out when she had her first litter and she had someone to help her.

If they're 11 days old, then I'd say now is a good time to handle them. I started holding my pups when they were five or six days old, and Pepper didn't seem to mind at that point. Just make sure you wash your hands and that you hold them over something soft- they move fast and its easy to drop one!
Also, when you go to hold them, maybe give Nezumi some treats or cardboard to keep her distracted. Just to ensure she won't freak out.

[NedIsNotOnFire]

Okay, so i took your advice and held the puppies today, and i began wondering what genders they are, so could anyone help me out?

I'll put what i think as well

Girl:



Girl:



Boy:



Girl:



Girl:



Girl: