Hamsters do exhibit cannibalism towards their own kind, a behavior rooted in their solitary nature and survival instincts. Below are the specific reasons and suggested responses:
I. Primary Causes
Territorial Disputes
Hamsters are solitary animals with a strong sense of territory. When housed together, aggressive behavior can occur, and the losing party may be killed or eaten.
Food Shortages
In a state of hunger, hamsters will actively attack weaker members of their species, even resorting to consuming them as a food source.
Breeding Season Conflicts
Pregnant female hamsters, due to hormonal changes, can become irritable and may attack male hamsters or eat their own pups.
Male hamsters in heat may also trigger fights when chasing females that are not in heat.
Health Disparities
Sick or disabled individuals are more likely to be seen as threats by stronger hamsters and thus become targets of attack.
II. Preventive Measures
Housing Separately: Keeping one hamster per cage is the safest solution.
Adequate Food Supply: Regularly check food storage to prevent aggression caused by hunger.
Isolation During Breeding: Pregnant females need to be housed alone, and young hamsters should be separated into their own cages once they reach one month of age.
III. Special Phenomena
Female hamsters often eat their pups due to environmental stress (such as noise or strange odors) or congenital defects in the offspring, which is a form of natural selection.