Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My husband and I have a ferret. We have had her for about a year. We are looking to get another one and we have found the most adorable, sweet new ferreT, BUT this ferret is already an adult, the pet store says he is about 6 months old even though he is quite bigger that our one year old at home. Are there differents breeds of ferrets? could that be why he is so big? Another thing is the pet store uses pine bedding in their ferrets cage. Is this something to worry about. We use carefresh because we were told that pine can cause upper respiratory problems. Another thing we were concerned about was the ferrets nose was dry and it has wet pine bedding caked on his nose and all of his paws. One of the workers at the store says he has two ferrets at home and the yellowish substance on her nose and feet is because of the pine bedding but that it will come off. Should we consider this ferret or no?

Number one I would report the pet store to the humane society for lack of care, and then get in contact with a ferret shelter in your area. Tell them about the poor little guy and they will look into as well, and then tell them you would love to adopt a ferret and see what they can do for you. I bought my first ferret at a petstore and my other 2 I adopted from the ferret rescue here, and I will tell you it is the greatest feeling in the world, knowing that you took a poor ferret that has probably been dumped by its owners and are giving it a new lfe and a home filled with love. I hate that so many pet stores get in ferrets and sell them to anyone that walks in there to make their money and order more ferrets. If less people bought pet store ferrets the less ferrets would be a shelters and rescues. I volunteer for the rescue where I live and right now they have 25 or so ferrets looking for forever homes, so I would say adopt.
It scares me that the ferret in the pet store is on pine shavings and that needs to be reported and maybe even talk to the manager. Also bedding stuck to it. I myself would not take the little guy, cuz if he is not in good health he may have something that will pass onto your one that you have now. Just tell as many people as you can about his poor care so maybe someone will be able to help him out. But do not risk your own ferret in the process!

There are not different breeds of ferrets but different types which is denoted by their markings and coloring. The size of the ferret depends on the breeding. I have a 3 lb. adult and a 2 lb. adult- they came from the same breeding farm, but there is a 4 yr. difference in their ages. Also, they were not introduced until 1 was 5 yrs. old and the other 6 mos. and they get along very well. As for the pine bark stuck on the ferret's nose & paws, you need to discern whether the discharge from the nose is disease or due to pine bark irritation. If it is disease it would most likely be a thick, yellowish and be coming from the nose and probably the eyes, too. You could try and get the pine bark off his nose so you could see what's underneath. The fact that the bark is stuck to nose and paws makes me suspicious that it could just be the lousy, wet bedding. But you need to check it out for yourself and make your own decision.