Friday, July 31, 2009

Ferrets, weasels, and chinchillas?

questions:

1) Which ones are legal in california?
2) Is a ferret another kind of weasel?
3) Are weasels more calm than ferrets?
4) How long do each of them live?
Answers:
1. Ferrets are NOT legal in CA, but Chinchillas are.
2 Despite what the "experts" have told you, a ferret IS a kind of weasel, if the term "weasel" is used to mean any member of the Mustilidae family. The domesticated ferret and the Long-Tailed Weasel, or Stoat, both belong to the same genus, Mustella, though they are of different species. A ferret is a weasel in the same way that German Shepherd can be called a canine, along with wolves and coyotes.
3. A ferret of the species that are kept and bred as pets is a totally DOMESTICATED animal, one that has been selectively bred for gentle and tractable temperament for thousands of generations, going all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman times. In contrast, other weasels are WILD animals, that have NOT been artificially selected for gentle temperaments by humans, but have instead been imbued by natural selection in the wild to be nervous, very active and suspicious of anything unusual, and to view any larger animal as a potential predator, humans included. While wild animals can often be "tamed" through the process of imprinting from birth by being hand-raised by humans, they are far from domesticated, and still subject to their natural instincts. The weasels I've been priviledged to observe in the wild were VERY quick, nervous, high-strung animals, much more so than the most hyper ferret!
4. I've never kept Chinchilllas, so I can't answer anything about their lifespans. I DID breed and show ferrets for several years though. Most ferrets, unaltered, would live for an average of 8-12 years. The same goes for ferrets that I had altered(neutered or spayed)after they reached adulthood. In contrast, most of the pet trade ferrets that are altered while still very young kits, often before their eyes open, seldom live more than four-five years, and this is from personal experience. Wild members of the genus Mustella, with the exception of mink that are raised for their furs on fur farms(and needless to say, THOSE have a very short lifespan)are very seldom kept in captivity due to their nervous, high-strung nature, but I doubt that they live as long as a ferret due to stress, and a weasel in the wild would be very fortunate to survive its first two-three years, due to disease, predation, trapping and lack of adequate food.
hehe...
There's aguy at my school that looks like a weasel.
xD
I know that ferrets are not legal in California.

Contrary to popular belief ferrets are not Weasels. Their are two different types of ferret: Black Footed Ferret and Domestic European Ferret.

I never had a weasel so I do not know.

Ferrets are now living an average of 10 or even 11 years old!! Way longer then they used to at 5-8 years of age. Advanced food, care, and veterinary medicine helps.
1) ferrets are definetly illegal in california, weseals (unsure) and chinchillas are legal.
2) well they belong to same family ,Mustelidae family
3)Ferrets are calmer and more docile

4. ferrets 6-8 years, weasels unsure, Chinchillas 15 years
not sure about weasels, but chinchillas and ferets are, and ferets are releted to weasles, i dont know the other 2 answeres sorry
1. ferrets and chinchillas are probably legal just about everywhere. 2. yes a ferret is of the weasel family. 3. weasels and ferrets can both be wild animals but domestic ferrets are calmer. 4. the guy from the pet store said he knew a man that owned 16 year old ferrets and that they can live for about as long as a dog. weasels probably live for about 6 or so. chinchillas can live to about 18 or so years.
1) weasels are not legal in cal. Chinchillas are legal. Ferrets are not legal.
2)A ferret and a weasel are totally different animals, but, very closely related.
3)No, they are about the same.
4) chinchillas live 10-12years.ferrets live 8-10years. weasels live about ten years

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