mum eating one of her young

Question
our female gerbil had 5 babies on the 20 may but this morning we found her eating one of her young why is this and should we remove it or leave it in cage, we started touching the babies the other day but we never touched the one she has eaten

Answer
Hi Louise,

There are several reasons they may eat a baby. The first is stress, if the mother feels threatened then she may cannablise. This can include if she thinks you are interfering. She may also eat a baby if it has passed away (which it is normal for a couple to do so), as this keeps the nest tidy, and would prevent the animal from rotting in the wild. It is best to leave them in the cage, although you can remove them if you wish.
You must not disturb the babies until they are around 2 weeks old, which i know they are now. You need to start handling them gently, and for short periods and if the mother seems stressed then leave it for a few more days before you try again!!

I hope this answers your question!!

Thanks,
Charlie