After parturition, approximately how long might the mother eat her babies?

• A. 2 days
• B. 5 days post parturition
• C. 7 days
• D. 14 days

Answer: (B)

Maternal cannibalism in small exotic rodents tends to occur within the first week after birth as the dam assesses litter viability and manages energy costs. If the pups are weak or nonviable, or if the dam is stressed, malnourished, or in a suboptimal environment, she may eat some of the litter to reclaim nutrients and redirect energy toward surviving offspring. The window around five days postpartum is a common time frame for this behavior to manifest, making it the best match among the options. Choosing an earlier or much later time point doesn’t align as well with typical postpartum patterns in these species, where signs of distress or nonviability become evident within the first several days. So, about five days after parturition is when this behavior is most likely to be observed.