cannibalism?

Question?

I used to breed gerbils, my female had 6 babies, 3 females and 3 males. the males were seperated from the females at weening and the females all started to eat each other, their tails were bloody stumps, and they began eating feet.... out of 47 baby gerbils that this female had, these were the only 3 that did this and it wasn't her first nor her last litter. Needless to say I couldn't sell them and they were fed to a friends snake. But I was wondering what could have caused this? This wasn't the first mixes litter, and it wasn't the first of this size, does anyone know what could have happened?

I am sorry this happened to you Erin! I dont know why. The same thing happened to me once. I was so horrified.
I sure hope you find out why this happens. My Gerbils were healthy and well fed and happy with plenty of room in a clean gerbil habitat.
Now I just have one gerbil.

[SomeBunny]

that is strange behavior sometimes our animals stump us ... I have had hamsters eat their young even up to a week old because she had many but never heard of the babies eating each other.

It's hard to say exactly why rodents eat their young.
Sometimes it's because they are simply a new mom and they are uncomfortable with what has just taken place.
Sometimes it's because they are feeling insecure with their suroundings.
So whether it is something you did or nothing you did. It all boils down to the comfort level of the rodent.
If you do your part, all you can do is hope that your pet does hers.
I had a hampster eat the hind legs of one of her young. I kept that one for obvious reasons. Poor little guy. But he managed to get aound quite well considering.