Why did my 5 week old hamsters eat their father?

[lettya]

I had heard about moms eating babies, never about patricide. Any thoughts out here on this issue?

[hamz]

did they actually eat him
or simply kill him?

[lettya]

I think they ate parts of him. I found a good part of him, but not his head. His legs were chewed down to the bone and left attached to him. It was weird because they seemed to be getting along.

I had separated the father when the babies came. When I found out they were all males at about 4 weeks old I asked the vet whether it would be ok to put them with their father and she said yes. They had been together for about a week.

My kids were feaked out by this too since they had no idea about cannibalism.

[Mitchandozzie]

what kind of hamsters are they? males will fight if u put them together if their syrians

[hamz]

if its dwarves.. it should be okay like what ur vet said... hmm
but, if they r syrians ..they r solitary..

[Mitchandozzie]

but if their dwarfs there should be abosolutly no reason they should attack the father

[qazwsxedc]

SYRIANS ARE SOLITARY!

[lettya]

Who said they are Syrians? And, in future don't bother to respond if you cannot be civil.

[Mitchandozzie]

i no that syrians are solitary no 1 said there arent