Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Small-Animals Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area  

Small-Animals Forum

Milton#3   Manderzratz   Girlnextdoor   Milton#3   Manderzratz   Girlnextdoor   Manderzratz   TutThePlatedLizard   Manderzratz   Manderzratz   Stina   Manderzratz   RepticTay   Manderzratz   Stina   Manderzratz   Stina   TutThePlatedLizard   Manderzratz  
 Member  Message

 #1856575


Milton#3
View Profile

 Have a qustion bout ferrets

ok first off my name is Milton i own1 red iguana i hope on getting a ferret some day and there was always this 1 Q on my mind , how does their feces (poop) look like does it look sorta like dog poop or like little pellets or someting i looked like on google and it just doesnt tell me nothing eighter that or im blind so can some body tell me like how their poop looks like



09/11/08  12:19am

 #1856688


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: Milton#3   In reference to Message Id: 1856575


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

it SHOULD look like thick chubby almost like the thickness and look of a tootsie roll but longer. it should be brown in color. green means undigested or went through to fast. (green happens a lot with diarrhea.) black, tarry can signify ulcers. super thin poops can mean hairballs/blockages. poop chart i can’t find any images of healthy poop. maybe i’ll take a picture of my guy’s poop later. oh what food are you thinking to feed?
09/11/08  08:52am

 #1857246


Girlnextdoor
View Profile



   Message To: Milton#3   In reference to Message Id: 1856575


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

lol, Ive never heard that kind of question b4...Exactly what the person before me said.
They are great pets, ours just passed away after about 8 years I think.
But beware of cancer, the way they are bred they have a high risk of cancer. JFYI
They are sooo friendly and sweet.
We had two one died from cancer the other one we caught it on her fast enough. But she had to get the tip of her tail snipped, a sort of ball was forming....She lived a full live tho.
--Anyway, I hope you get one. Post pics!!!
09/11/08  09:19pm

 #1857423


Milton#3
View Profile



   Message To: Girlnextdoor   In reference to Message Id: 1857246


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

hey thanks 4 the chart Manderzrats i dont own 1 yet but if i do i read that boiled chicken is good 4 them is the little ferret pellets good 4 them to eat and some fruits and veggies correct me if im wrong and Girl next door sorry 4 ur loss but ya i like to know everything b4 i get a pet so its just a curious qustion and i like mammals better a little then cold blooded reptiles the reason is that its kinda cold in ma house so i can only take my iguana out 4 like 30 min. or i could just take him outside and chill there



09/11/08  11:29pm

 #1857547


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: Milton#3   In reference to Message Id: 1857423


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

NO FRUITS AND VEGGIES! i don’t mean to yell, but that puts a REALLY HIGH risk of giving your ferret insulinoma and other problems. ferret kibble only food chart. i use 8 in 1 ultimate and innova evo ferret. stay away from any food that has red. and some treats that are good are nbone treat sticks, foamy fries, and cheweasels. treats you can give bits of chicken if your guy’ll eat them. mine won’t. uhm. gerber chicken baby food is a good treat too. 2x weekly i give a pea sized amount of pure unscented petroleum jelly mixed with a small amount of ferretone to prevent hairballs/blockages. DEFINITELY get ferrets for dummies 2nd edition. it has helped me so much. watch the temperature regardless of mammal or herp. mammals can get colds and pneumonia. my animal rooms don’t go below 60 at the lowest and 72 at the highest. the preferred range is between 65-75. if you get one ferret, look in a shelter for one that should be homed alone because s/he doesn’t get along with others. otherwise, most ferrets like pairs or groups and will be sad and lonely. and it is always good to ask questions. then you kind of know what you’re getting into.
09/12/08  07:45am

 #1858586


Girlnextdoor
View Profile



   Message To: Milton#3   In reference to Message Id: 1857423


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

I deff would go w/a ferret they are lots of fun! I agree with the reptiles. They eat pellets (ferret food)
I don’t think you can give them fruits and veggies.
Let me know if you get one! =D I got highly attached to ours :/ Reptiles are way more work then these guys. Let me know if you wonder about other stuff. They are supper easy!!
The only thing I recommend is regular vet check-ups
We never used the special bedding - they used a litter box =D yes we were able to train our ferrets. I think the bedding is a bad idea, waste of money. Get a blanket for them to sleep in tho.
-Hugs,
Holly
-GOOD LUCK!!
09/13/08  03:35pm

 #1858639


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1857547


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

bedding is alright. they need something soft to sleep on. DEFINITELY no wood if you use bedding. and remember in the litter box, no clumping litter, and no clay.
09/13/08  04:30pm

 #1860077


TutThePlatedLizard
View Profile



   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1858639


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

i have a ferret and he has some old shirts for bedding on the bottom to sleep on and he uses a litterbox. and yes, yearly check ups are good. they also need rabies shots yearly and another one (having brain fart and cant name it) is good but ferrets often have allergic reactions to it. they are great pets, i lve mine to death! and he also gets along really well with my cat, they play like kittens.
09/15/08  08:51am

 #1860132


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: TutThePlatedLizard   In reference to Message Id: 1860077


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

distemper is the other shot. and yearly check ups can catch something early so it’s good.
09/15/08  10:50am

 #1861400


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1860132


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

random diet info
i had lost the page. but here it is. anyway if you use kibble-innova evo ferret or feline or 8 in 1 (ultimate only) are my top choices.
09/16/08  08:32pm

 #1862969


Stina
View Profile



   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1861400


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

There’s lots of good info here. I just wanted to ad that ferrets often won’t eat something if they don’t realise it’s food. Once they get used to a few things when they are young it’s hard to add anything because they never learned that they could eat it. This is good and bad. I’ve heard that they can starve to death with food in thier cage because they didn’t recognise it as edible. (I don’t know if it’s true but for mine it certainly was....heaven help me if I the store ran out of HIS food!!) It’s good because they normally won’t accidentally eat something bad for them but it’s bad because it’s hard to add new healthy foods. Just start when they are young with a healthy variety.
09/18/08  10:08pm

 #1863004


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: Stina   In reference to Message Id: 1862969


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

ahh yes stina i forgot that for a minute. that is why i like many fuzzbutt owners mix foods. that way if one is sold out for a few days it’s not a problem. usually though even at an older age it is possible to mix a new food in, just harder. natural gold is also a good feed that i just mixed into my innova/ultimate ferret food. when i put in a new food i give them a smaller food amount (and refill it more throughout the day) so that i can see how much and what they are eating. if you want to feed any treats, introduce them young. i think by 4 months or so.
09/18/08  10:38pm

 #1863199


RepticTay
View Profile



   Message To: Milton#3   In reference to Message Id: 1857423


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

Hi milton, a ferret is a great pet, and if you have dogs or cats introducing them at a young age thye will grow up to love your other animals.

They can live single, providing you have enough time to spend with them. But if not then do buy / adopt a PAIR or TRIO and possibly GROUP of ferrets. If you are at work very early til evening, then more than one ferret would be best.

During their life time, do not feed alot of fruits and veggies, as they do not digest them so good. If you must give them fruit or veg, only give a small slice of apple once a month for a treat, or chop up some apple into small tiny cubes or bits, and let them dry out and use them as "treats" if you plan on training or teaching your ferret various things. Same works with cucumber.

Their caging is very simple, i use an indoor rabbit cage (some use a rabbit hutch). If you can, let your ferret out for a minimum of 4 hours a day. If possible try and spread the ours out throughout the day time.

If your at work or school from early morning til late afternoon / early evening, then i would suggest purchasing a 2+ tier ferret cage. So they can burn their energy whilst inside the cage.

My ferret is in his cage for around 2 hours a day, because i am home 24/7, unemployed and dont school i have time for now. WHen i eventually get work my mother will keep up my routine since she is home all day too.

A ferret given correct care, and dietary... can become a great friend to you and others around you.

As babies teach them to use a litter tray (saves mess outside the cage), and to not bite or scratch people and household items.

You can let the ferret free-roam the house/flat/apt, but please cover any holes in walls, stairs or doors. Make sure dangerous things are up high out of ferret reach, and that the floor is clean. If you have a spare room thats empty, clean it up and convert it into a ferret play room. If not you can simply let them run around in a bedroom providing its clean and danger is out fo reach.

My ferret roams the living room, hallway, and stair way. Kitchen, bathroom, and all bedrooms are closed doors (or closed off somehow).

Thats the basics i guess, the more experiance things are ear cleaning, claw clipping, and bathing.

I claw clip myself, i am highly experiances. I clip my dogs, cats, tortoises and my grandparents dogs and cats, and my aunts rabbits claws. basically, your ferret usually has pure white claws, and from the tip of their toe comes out a thick redish pink like vain, thats a blood vessel. You just clip the tip of the claws so your nowhere near the red vain. If you cut into the red/near the red vain it will hurt the ferret alot. If your not experianced on claw clipping, please consult vetinary help.

im rambling.
09/19/08  10:05am

 #1863416


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: RepticTay   In reference to Message Id: 1863199


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

good info.
except fruits and veggies should NEVER be fed. if your fuzzbutt has insulinoma, karo syrup helps. but if it is a healthy fuzzie, fruit, veggies, or a lot of carbs leads to insulinoma.

for clipping have corn starch baby powder or styptic powder on hand in case you need it. i myself have never cut a nail. i clip rats, finches, parakeets, ferrets, bunnies, guinea pigs, etc. but i have it in case. in case of a small cut it is also helpful.

clean ears weekly or biweekly as needed. use a ferret or cat ear wash and a q-tip. make sure to be careful.

bathing-i bathe once, maybe twice yearly. unless the fuzzie gets into something, there is no need to bathe them more often. i bathe them when they are losing the winter coat to help with shed.

i personally have never taught mine to bite. i play fight with them and they nip playfully. i don’t see how they could have fun without nipping but training depends on the individual. just remember to NEVER strike or discipline your fuzzie beyond a timeout. i find holding them for a minute or two and saying no calmly but sternly works as discipline.
09/19/08  03:03pm

 #1863539


Stina
View Profile



   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1863416


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

My ferret Bo NEVER bit (all animals CAN...but Bo never did) I got him at 4 weeks old. If he got too rough or play nipped I’d catch his mouth gently but firmly with my thumb on top of his nose so he couldn’t spit my finger out for a few seconds (At that age they can’t hurt you...they aren’t strong enough yet) I’d tell him "No bite, be gental" and then let him go back to play. No stress, no yelling, It was just uncomfortable enough that he didn’t want it to happen again. With in a week he quit play nipping all together and never nipped anyone ever again. I’d only try this with a very young ferret though. If they are older there bite hurts quite a bit.



09/19/08  06:11pm

 #1863543


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: Stina   In reference to Message Id: 1863539


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

yes that sounds very good as discipline. i mistyped before. i meant i never trained my guys NOT to bite. i allow them to. they never bite me roughly. they did as babies but i chalked it up to teething and they outgrew it and just nip when playing. i just expect people to not care if nipped or not touch my ferrets. the reason i stress no discipline even though i am sure most ferret owners don’t hit them. or at least i HOPE most wouldn’t. i have met people who have thrown fuzzies or spanked them so hard they pooped themselves. all hitting does is scare them. i like your discipline method. i think i’ll try it on my bar biters.
09/19/08  06:17pm

 #1864427


Stina
View Profile



   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1863543


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

I agree with you Manderzratz. No spanking EVER. (That goes for just about every other pet you can imagin.) I did try misting him for something or another but he liked it and thought it was a game.



09/20/08  08:25pm

 #1864538


TutThePlatedLizard
View Profile



   Message To: Stina   In reference to Message Id: 1864427


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

hey guys, any ideas on training for deaf ferrets? i’d love to teach mine to come to me and do tricks and stuff like sitting on my shoulder, but i have no idea how to do it
09/20/08  10:14pm

 #1864782


Manderzratz
View Profile



   Message To: TutThePlatedLizard   In reference to Message Id: 1864538


 Have a qustion bout ferrets

i have a deaf girl what i do is kinda scratch the floor in front of her like i would scratch behind a dog’s ear and she follows my hand a few feet. she’ll deathroll if i spin my hand and follow it in circles. other than that i don’t know.
09/21/08  07:45am


Back to Small-Animals Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area