cannibalism?

Question
Hi, i woke up this morning to check on my feed my kids rats. They have 2, 4 month old female hooded rats.  I found one of the females dead in the house, her leg had been eaten by the other female (hands and paws covered in blood). I took them to the vets 2 days ago because they had sarcoptic mites on their ears, which were treated with invermectin. Do I rehouse the female? Are the kids at any risk? will she do it again?

Answer
Hi


I am so glad your girls are getting the proper treatment needed for mange. It can be pretty nasty. I am sorry that your other girl died. Had she been ill other than the mange?
Believe it or not this is normal for rats to do with their deceased. Its an act of honor. They do not want to leave their beloved cagemate for predators in the wild to take their carcass so they consume them. THis behavior extends to the domesticated rat to an extent as you have seen. Its pretty grim, even shocking, but very normal.  often they eat the stomach first so the deceased doesnt have an odor as strong as it would having the stomach there. The odor of death attracts predators and since rats are on the most preyed upon animals in the wild, they dont want to attract any predators to their nest.
So yes, it is extreme, yes, but its an act of honor and to the rat, it preserves the deceased rats dignity.

They also willl bury them too often in their litter/bedding.
Hope this helps.  It shows your little girl that is left wanted to do right by her cagemate.  She may mourn her now so watch for signs of her not wanting to eat etc... esp if they have mites. Mange is pretty tough on rats (sarcoptic mites) and can really eat the ears away. Hope they heal fast. Good luck!