Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a... hmmm how old would I say he is... at least a year and a half year old bouncing-off-the-walls boy named Puck. Puck is the most darling wonderful little thing I have ever had the pleasure of keeping! I've had him since last Christmas, he was sort of a gift from my parents adn to myself. Haha, the gift was them ALLOWING me to buy him!
Well, after a year of owning him, I've decided the responsibility is pretty easy. Everyone swore up and down that ferrets are hard work, but they also said that about horses. I have 3 now and still have yet to see the challenge! I think it's about time I got Puck some company. I feel like we're both ready!
Here's where I need the info! He's a neutered, descented male, 1.5 year old male. I've decided if I do get a second, I will adopt. My questions are these:
1.) Do males tend to get along with one sex better or worse than others, or does it simply depend on the ferret?

2.)About how much does it cost to get a ferret spayed/neutered and/or descented? (If I find one to adopt, I doubt it will come spayed/neutered)

3.)I've got about a 3x2x3 cage, the "perfect size" for one well exercised ferret. However, if a second were to come onto the scene, would it be OK to keep in there with him or should I upgrade? I know it would seem like common sense to upgrade, but I'm trying to cut costs as much as I can in order to make this idea more appealing to my parents However, it CAN be done!

4.)Before adopting anyone, I plan on taking my ferret in for visits and letting him play with other friends' ferrets first. Are there any vaccinations or precautions I should take before doing this, or should I trust the rescues to take measures on their side alone? Fleas seem obvious enough to protect against, but I mean things like vaccinations, etc.

Honestly, I'd prefer to go with a female, they stink a touch less, but hey it doesn't matter as long as we all get along!
Any advice is very much appreciated!
-Kim and Puck

1) Neutered males can get along with either sex.
2) I think the cost is around $100-$150. I had one that had to be spayed back about 10 years ago and the cost was $75, including descenting. Ferrets with scent glands can spray a little when aggatated or frightened, but from what I've heard the order isn't bad and goes away quickly. But I believe in descenting because the glands can get 'packed'. Then they have to be taken care of. If you adopt from a shelter, they are almost always spayed/neutered. Our shelter won't adopt them out unless they are spayed/neutered. Pet stores sell them that way, at least the ones in our area. And from other ferret owners I've heard the same thing.
3) Your cage is large enough for 2...as long as they get out enough and are able to run around and get excersise. Put a hammock up so they can sleep in more than one area. Ferrets really love those.
4) Your ferret should be vaccinated against rabies and canine distemper. I have to say here, that my 2 girls don't get the rabies vaccine. They both have had server reactions with the shots. My ferrets aren't outside ferrets and I don't have other pets. The reactions get stonger with every shot they get, so I feel the chances of getting rabies is just about nil compared to them dying from the reaction. If you adopt from a shelter, take your ferret there to play with the ferrets. See how yours gets along with others. Your ferret may show you what ferret it gets along best with. But a alittle warning here...your ferret may get a long just fine at the shelter with another ferret, but once he gets back home in his own terroritory, it may be a little different. But that's normal. He may chase the new ferret out of the sleeping area. He may grab him/her by the neck and drag him/her around. That's normal. After a day or even a couple of weeks, things should be calm. When you get another ferret, a 'pecking order' has to be shown. The longest it took for 2 of my ferrets to sleep together and become friends was 2 months. But then they became the best of friends. Mostly it's taken just a few days. Sometimes it's an instant thing, but not usually. Just have patients and keep an eye on them.
Please let us know how things go. Good luck!
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin

We had out first ferret for about 6 months before we got our second. Within a couple of weeks, our first boy got an ulcer from the stress of this. I would recommend introducing them slowly, maybe separate cages at first.
And watch for fleas. We took our first to the ferret shelter to help pick out his new brother and it was months before we totally had those fleas gone. Their eggs can sit for a very long time before they're picked up and hatched. Thick ferret fur is a great hiding place for them.
The previous post about the vaccinations was right. Our five year old ferret had a worsening reaction to his vaccinations every year, going from being sleepy at first to vomiting and needing an injection this past year. I'm still going to get them vaccinated. There are some previous posts in further down about what to do ahead of time. I don't want to take the risk of them nipping someone and then having to be destroyed b/c they haven't been vaccinated for rabies.

Darn thing didn't post my reply!
Thankfully I still have my first temporary ferret cage. The only thing I absolutely hate about it is that it's a stainless steel floor thing, so when they decide "WEE I'm gonna DIG NOW!" it's the most god awful sound on earth. I'll have to put some plastic or something down... Either way, that would probably be best for the slow introduction.

Boy, I've got options coming out the ears for adoption! Unfortunately the ones I really want seem to always come in pairs!!! I would hate to split friends up. I'd rather leave them for someone who can adopt two.

Haha and about the hammocks, don't worry. We've gone through at least 4 in the past year. This new one, lined with fleece from corner to corner, has been his favorite so I guess that's why it hasn't been completely torn to shreds yet... or maybe it's because it's not cheap. You really get what you pay for! I'm going to start making my own eventually though. If nothing else, my own sleeping bags for him!

Thanks for all the advice guys

You could put a piece of carpet down on the bottom of your old cage or a throw rug...one they won't get their nails caught in. I can image that sound when they dig! LOL!! If you need to have 2 cages, and you're able to, put them next to each other. Also after the new one has been there a couple of days, exchange their bedding so they can get the scent of the other and get used to it.
I know what you mean about ferrets going to shelters in pairs. I was lucky the last time when I got my Willow. She came in by herself. After her quarrintine(sp?) time, they did put her in a cage with 3 other ferrets. But she was only with them a few weeks before I adopted her. When I went on vacation for 2 wks, I boarded my 2 girls and asked the shelter owner if she would see how Willow got along with them. By the time I got back, they were friends already. There weren't any problems.
Good luck!
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Kat
Ferret mom to Jasmine and Daffy
A Cheesehead from Wisconsin