Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello. i just got a 7 week old female albino ferret 2 weeks ago. she has a bitting issue and loves to jump at things, especially dogs. i know the jumping is just her playing but is the bitting? and if so will she calm down on the bitting? i hold her every day and play with her, i have even started using that fooey junk that started to work but then she put her teeth through my hand. help please !!!!!!!! thanks in advance.

~JQ

Congrats on your new baby! Most kits are mouthy and have to be taught some manners. When she bites scruff her and tell her "no". You can also give her a short time out, no more than 5 minutes though or she'll forget why she's there. Be patient, she'll soon learn what's acceptable and what isn't.
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I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

Hi!, and I would also like to say congradulations on your new furball. WeaselLuvr has good advice about the biting. I take it this is your 1st one. There are good books on how to raise ferrets. It's a good idea to get one if you don't already have one. Also, check out your area for a ferret shelter. A good one will really help you on all the things you need to know about ferrets.
Also there's something called Ferretone. It's a liquid. Usually ferrets love it. Put just a couple of drops on your finger and let her lick it off. As she does this, tell her what a good girl she is and pet her. Just give a couple of drops a day. Also, when you clip her nails, put her on her back on your lap. Put a few drops of Ferretone on her belly. While she's licking this you can trim her nails without her fighting it.
Young ferrets are just like young pups and kittens. They have to learn that they play with their humans differently than other animals. It just takes time, like with any pet.
What are you feeding her and what litter do you use? If you have any questions, we'll be happy to help you out. Keep playing with your little girl, and you'll have a happy and enjoyable furball!
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

i am feeding her advance nutrition diet for ferrets lamb and rice formula. the litter ive been using is just carefresh but she likes to just go in the corner after she destroys the litter box, which isnt attatched to the cage but im getting one that does. what would you suggest for litter? i was told regular cat litter but then a co worker at petsmart said no it will expand and kill your ferret if it ingests it so im a lil lost on that topic. also where can i pick up some ferretone? assuming that my work doesnt have it which no offense to them but i dont think they carry alot of things lol. and yes this is my first bubby ^o^ i originally went to reno for a hedgehog but the albino ferretness was to cute to resist.

~JQ

I'm not familiar with that food. Where do you get it? Just yesterday a friend im'ed me asking about non-chicken based ferret foods. She has a ferret that's allergic to chicken. All I could think of were the prescription diets. She's really looking for kibble. Plus, I'm always looking for good foods to add to my mix.
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I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

petsmart or petco should carry it i belive that it is lamb if it isnt its chicken, my ferret is at my gf's house b/c my parents are wierd about having a not so legal animal in the house .

It is chicken. You're feeding 8in1 Ultimate, it's a very good food. I just wish they'd sell it in larger size bags. I don't buy anything smaller than 10lbs. With 8 ferrets I try to buy everything in bulk. I prefer 20-25lb bags. Regarding your earlier question about litter, pelleted litter is best or even wood stove pellets if you can get them.
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I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

I've used a cat food that had lamb and my kids all liked it. As long as the food has at least 34% protein and 18% fat. Also, make sure the 1st ingredient is a meat product. I mix 3 different kinds together.
As for litter I use a soft paper product. I know a lot of people at the ferret shelter use a wood pellet product. It dissolves when it gets wet so you can see where they go. Never use a cedar or pine product for litter or bedding. It's bad for their health. As for bedding, they love old t-shirts, flannel shirts, blankets etc. Just make sure you take off any buttons.
For litter training your fuzzy, don't take her out of her cage right away when she wakes up. Let her go in her litter box first. When she does, give her a little treat like a little piece of a rice cake. Tell her she's a good girl. Gradually cut that out, but keep praising her for awhile when she uses the litter box. Most of my ferrets loved rice cakes.
As for the Ferretone, all the pet stores I go to sell it. But if you don't find it, I'll look for a website that sells things for ferrets. Also, here's another website that is great. It's really helpful for the new ferret owners and ones who have had them awhile.
http://ferretcentral.org/

I'm sure it'll help you out!
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

The best online site for Ferret gear that I have found is www.theferretstore.com. They have a free shipping offer if you buy I think $35 worth of stuff, too, even for food.

I've heard good things about that one too. I don't order online because I'm able to get what I need near where I live. But for people who can't, it's a good site.
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

They do have a good selection but you can usually find most things cheaper somewhere else, even if you factor in the shipping. I shop mainly at Jeffer's (www.jefferspet.com), ferretdepot.com, and on ebay. Also, TFS's customer service isn't very good at times. Last time I ordered from them I got most of my order in about a week but it took months for my lax to come. I only buy supplies a couple times a year so I wasn't out when I ordered but ended up having to buy some lax at Petsmart to get me through until my order from TFS finally arrived. At no time did they tell me it would be on back order for so long. They will also split up gift orders into separate shippings. What they did to my Christmas order last year was completely FUBAR.
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I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

Hate to hear you had bad experiences with them, I have used them several times and have never had a problem at all. The only places I have close, and I live in a city, are commercial pet stores like Petco that really charge lots for everything they have. I have found the ferret store to be cheaper. But that's just me. Have not used Jeffers for anything but have seen thier catalogs, they do have good prices.

ok i have another question. i need to potty train this lil rascal (so cute) and im going to be purchasing a little litter box that clamps to the cage so she cant move it. any helpful hints for the newby? im sure that bella the albino ferret will enjoy it in the long run ^^.

As someone already said, make sure she visits the litterbox before you let her out for playtime. Also, anytime you see her about to go somewhere else put her in the box and when she's done give her a little treat. Ferretone is great for training. After awhile she'll start trying to fake you out to get some.

I had one little guy, Simon, that was so bad about trying to fake me out it was hilarious. He'd get in the box and make sure I could see him and then run to me for some tone. One night he did this 3 times but never did anything in the box so I wouldn't give him any. He finally got mad at me and pooped right in the middle of the floor. I didn't know that we had switched from the reward system to the bribery system. LOL
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I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

WeaselLuvr, your Simon sounded like my Basil. LOL! I gave mine little pieces of rice cakes. Most of my kids loved them. He did learn though.
It just takes a little time to train them to use the litter box. When they made a mess on the carpet or tile, I cleaned it, then went over it with some vinegar and water. It never hurt the carpet, but test the carpet in an area where it won't show just incase it stains. But I've never heard of anyone saying it stained their carpet. When it dries, you won't smell it.
Good luck!
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

I have to say that I don't think rice cakes are a good treat for ferrets. Being obligate carnivores they cannot process fruits, vegetables, or grains. I try to limit my ferrets' intake of carbs as much as possible. I prefer to give healthy treats like meat/meat soup or ferretone.
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I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

I agree about keeping carbs and sugars low in their diet. But if you read the package and see how much is in them, you'd be surprised. Plus the small piece I would give them, there was very little. One reason why I don't use Ferretvite is because it's loaded with sugar. The main treat I give them is Ferretone. I put about 8 drops in a little water and give that to them. I do this about 3 times a week. I used to buy those ferret treats in a bag, they were banana flavor and other flavors. They loved them, but several of mine would get a runny stool afterwards. So that had to stop. If a ferret can tolerate them, once in awhile should be ok, but I wouldn't give them more than twice a week.
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

Hey, Congrats. I have 4 ferrets. The first 2 were rescues and dont bite at all. The third was a $10 SPCA ferret that we had to revive (although hes permanently stunted, very small) and he had a biting problem. It went away with puttin bitter apple on myself. THen I got the angorra kit. Hes extremely hyper to this day but as a kit he wouldnt stop biting and I tried everything. I finally found it. When he would bite my finger I would hold his mouth open (not enough to hurt, just discomfort) until he let go. He was done biting in a few weeks.

i have another question. have any of you use bi-odor by marshal?
that stuff that you put in their water and it makes them and their stools smell less. has anyone tried this? and if so does it work? i am very skeptical about using chemicals for any of my animals even though it says that its "natural". thanks in advance
~JQ

Honestly, with only one ferret, odor shouldn't be a problem. Just clean the litterbox daily and wash the bedding at least once a week and you'll be fine.
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I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

One thing I'd like to say about washing their bedding, don't use a fabric softner. These can irritate their skin. Don't give them baths often. Not more than every 2 wks. I give mine a bath usually once a month. I skip January thru March. Giving them a bath too often will stimulate their oil glands and cause more odor.
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin