Any tips are welcome...thinking about getting ferret but not sure of the kind and sex- potty training...etc..also any other tips or links to sites welcome
Answers:
Ferrets are extreamly high maintenance pets. Start up cost for a ferret is around 500 dollars. When you first get your ferrets they will need to see a vet(not apart of the 500 dollar start up). Most states require yearly vaccinations for ferrets(rabies, distemper) this can cost upward of 150 dollars. They also need monthy heartworm pills
It is recommended that you have two ferrets, They can sleep together and play in ways that they cannot with you.
Ferret food is expensive. They should have at least three high quality food mixed togther. Marshals food is not a high quality food(do not feed the ferret this). High quality means first three ingrediants meat, and no fish.34-36% protein and approximately 20% fat (and low fiber) The high quality food can cost anywhere from 15 dollars to over 20 for a 5 -10 lb bag. Feeding them low quality food may be cheaper for awhile, but will lead to health problems and costly vet bills later.
Young ferrets monthy bills may be fairly reasonable, but as ferrets age they are extreamly likely to get adreanal disease. You are more likely to have a ferret get health problems when they get older than not, and older is only about 4, so expect high vet bills for about half its life.
Ferrets are smelly, there is no going around that fact(even descented). Since ferrets are strictly carnivours they have a short digestive tract, and need food available all the time, therefore they deficate every few hours. They also have a musky smell(even decented) it get into eveything (clothes, etc). Cages need to be cleaned daily to minimize the smell, if you let it wait the smell will be tremendous. Even cleaned daily you can still smell the ferrets as soon as you enter my home.
They can be litter box trained, but it is hard, and hit or miss(no pun intended). When they are out of thier cage they will not seek out a litter box and will usually just go anywhere. My ferrets never were litter box trained and preffered to go next to the box/dig in it, rather than use it.
Expect to have your ferret out of its cage for a minimum of 6 hours a day, otherwise they will not be happy. Ferrets have a lot of energy and need to burn it off.
When they are out they must be supervised as they get into everything, climb everywhere, etc. Mine used to love to go on my dvd shelves and knock them all off(finally had to replace the shelves with a cabinet style)
Some of them can be mean, there is no gaurentee. You must be prepared to deal with an agessive ferret. Do you know what to do with a problem biter? I have a formally abused ferret that was a bad biter(I took some nastly bites to the hands-nerve damage on one hand). Even friendly babies can have personality changes if not properly socialized and trained.
Ferrets must be nip trained when they are young. There are correct and incorrect ways to do this. Hitting, yelling flicking the nose do not work and may lead to an agressive and hand shy ferret. All ferrets nip, there is no way to completly stop, but it should be controled. They should know not to bite you too hard, often, ect. That is where having two ferrets comes in handy(they can play with eachother the way ferrets naturally play)
The cage must be fairly large, the ferret starter cages sold in pet stores are not large enough. A ferret needs a multi floor cage. You'll need hammocks, ferrets like sleeping away from thier feces and urine. Get food bowls that lock to the side or else they will throw them off the shelves. Large water bottles are best (32 oz), ferrets need water available all the time.
If you know all the information, and are prepared to make an expensive and long commitment then go for it.
Please be sure you hav emergency vet money set aside, it is recommended at least $1000 dollars, you do not want to end up as one of the kids on here asking, "My ferret is injured how do I treat it without going to the vet." Thats not fair to the pet or responsible. I have thousands of dollars put aside for emergencies.
We have two ferrets. It doesn't really matter if it is male or female since they can't be sold without being altered anyway. Have them descented or their musky smell will drive you nuts. Potty training consists of placing a litter box in the corner of their cage and showing them where it is, like a cat. Ferrets prefer to be with cage mates. You can mix the sexes, they don't care. A good basic sight is www.2ndchance.info/ferretcare.
here is a link to the American ferret association http://www.ferret.org/index.shtm...
another great resource is the book 'ferrets for dummies'. they are a fantastic pet IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO!!! They are a very high maintenance pet, but an absolute riot! Also check www.petfinder.com for a list of ferret shelters in your area. they are a great resource to interact with ferrets and even adopt...a list of ferret rescues can also be found in the book and on the website I gave you. I am owned by nine little weasels and I laugh everyday, but they also have their moments of sheer destruction!!! Good luck and please just make sure that you do your homework...the shelter in my area (all my guys are from them, some were babies when I got them too) has at least 50 ferrets all the time...here is their link for more info too... http://www.browardferretrescue.org/...
as someone above said the sex dosnt rlly matter to much after theyre altered and almost all ferrets from shelters are already potty trained.
if u RLLY want to get a ferret u should DEFinitly buy Ferrets for Dummies. im currently reading it cover to cover in hopes of geting a couple this summer. after reading it u probly wont have too many Q to post here.lol. the book isnt a boring information book, it has slight humor in it and is fairly hard to get boring while reading it. another good place to get information after reading it would be a local shelter that u might end up getting ur ferret from. theyre probly one of the most reliable ppl u can talk to in person for Qs. (pet stores RNT trustworthy, SOME breeders rnt(but many r), somteimes even vets rnt reliable f they rnt specialized in ferrets. if u read as much as u can about them then ur little fuzzies probly wont end up in shelters like so amny others...
good luck!!
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