Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There is a pet store near me that sell ferrets. I go visit them (the ferrets hehe) now and then. I don't feel that I have the time or space to give one the right home, so I can only visit for now. Okay, on to my concern. I was in there yesterday and they had gotten in some new little ones. Two of them were no more than about 7-8 inches long (not including the tail). They are also about 5 nearly full grown ferrets in there as well. At one time, a big one was "playing" with a smallest of the young ones. It was biting the little one on the ears and neck. Little one was crying out. I reached in and cuffed the big one and he let go of the baby. Should the large ferrets be in the same cage as the little ones? I'm worried that the little ones will be hurt. Any advice would be wonderful. The manager is very nice. If they should be in seperate cages, I'm sure she'll listen.

I wouldnt worry about it! My first 2 ferrets Chase and angel were adopted together when they were like 2 from a ferret shelter. A few months later we saw a little baby from the local S.p.c.a(said he was found roaming streets and was thilfhy when we got him) whos growth now seems to be stunted and we brought him home. Introduction was horrible. Chase is naturaully very ferret friendly but Angel gave that baby(max) hell for months until he was at adult size. She would attack him constantly and we had to bitter apple his neck. Once he was older they were perfectly fine with each other and played and slept together so max moved in. About a year later we decided we had to get an angorra. King the angorra came home and Angel did the same thing. They are all now best of friends and all live, eat, play and sleep together. It seems like she made them go through a right of passage because it wasnt dominance cause Chase is the alpha ferret of the pack. Through the whole experience, no matter how much the babies cried none of them were ever even slightly injured.

Unless there's blood drawn I wouldn't worry about those actions. They have to get a 'pecking order'. I had problems also with a few of mine when I introduced a new one. With 2 of my girls it took 2 months before the 1st one accepted the new one. You always have a 'top dog' ferret that has to show the others it's the boss. I've had one that had to drag one of my new one across the room several times. The new one fought all the way. But I kept an eye on them and no blood was drawn. With those 2 it took just 2 days before they were friends. So it's different with each new one. If you see blood I would tell the manager. Once in a while, there will be one that just doesn't seem to get along with other ferrets. But thank Heaven, it's not too often.
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

Yes, once dominance is established everything usually works out fine!! My oldest ferret chase is old and not very active but hes still the boss even though the young angorra could destroy him but because he set him straight when he was a kit everything is fine.

Has anyone ever seen a young male challenge for dominance like Wolfs, Lions, and Gorillas?

I've seen some things like that on animal programs I've watched. It really can get pretty rough.
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin