i was thinking about getting one. ive heard they are fun pets.
2006-07-23 06:45:39 · 8 answers · asked by NursieAngie 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Before you go out to get either one of them, do your homework. Ferrets are a lot of work and a lot of fun, but not cheap to keep. The vet bills can really pile up when they get older, because there are several diseases that they are prone to.
They have to have a large cage, special ferret food and litter, toys and hammocks aso. Once a year they need shots and a checkup. You have to have lots of time for them, as they need to play outside their cage for about 4 hours a day and they do need to socialize with you, so you have to be there and play. Some ferrets bite, but most can be trained not to. The difference in male and female: males are usually bigger than the females, thicker in built too. Both sexes smell, the worst are males that aren't fixed, but most ferrets available in stores today are spayed/neutered and descented before you ever get them. You can keep the smell to a minimum by keeping their litter boxes and bedding clean and by only bathing them once a month, IF that often even. The more you bathe them the worse they smell.
I have two males and two females and it seems that temperamentally the boys play harder, run faster and sleep deeper. They also eat more. They are a bit more intense it seems, but my girls can hold their own very well. Oh, and I use more litter for the boys then I do for the girls, because of the way their anatomy is laid out. Girls will pee and poop in one spot in the box, because their urinary opening and their anus are real close together. With boys that is not so. The boys penis is halfway up their belly, so they poop in one spot and the urine goes about an inch in front of that pile. That's about the only difference I've noticed there. I scoop my boxes twice daily and clean them thoroughly once a week at least.
Please read up on it and get in touch with people who keep them before you run out and get one. Read "Ferrets for Dummies", it's a good book and maybe talk to some people in Yahoo!Groups. Then, if you still think you want one, go to petfinder.com and adopt one. You'll be doing a good deed and saving some money at the same time. I adopted two males through petfinder. My two females and them are getting along great now.
Good luck and please think before you get one(or two).
2006-07-23 08:58:24 · answer #1 · answered by Huh? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A professional opinion is: males are less temperamental at maturity. A person does not have to have a male/female combo. Ferrets do like companionship of another ferret of either sex. The best ferret is spayed/neutered, descented, tame, check the ears for ear mites before purchase.
2006-07-23 07:02:33 · answer #2 · answered by kriend 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you get a female, you must get a male with it. A female ferret will die if it goes into heat and does not mate. If you want just one, then get a male.
2006-07-23 06:50:08 · answer #3 · answered by rutchy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Female, they are members of the muskilid (sp?) family, meaning related to skunks. The females odor/fermones are more tollerable. I beleive that you can also have a male descented.
2006-07-23 06:49:37 · answer #4 · answered by adgmonkey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think a female thats what i have but i dont really know maybe ask the pet shop ur buying it from they might know
2006-07-23 06:51:01 · answer #5 · answered by kropogs_5_20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion they look like minature posssums. And they stink worse than a multi cat litter box. Don't get one.
2006-07-23 07:50:56 · answer #6 · answered by Belle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
female
2006-07-23 06:48:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have ferret stuff here
http://www.upco.com/cgi-bin/Upcol.storefront/44c39579006d48e8ea6dc0a80aa50774/Catalog/1163
2006-07-23 06:47:29 · answer #8 · answered by Linnie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋