I think he's lonely. ;~;

[knackers]

So I'm to the point of thinking about getting...another ferret.

I do spend a lot of time playing with Sharkie, making sure that he has stuff to entertain himself with, watching him while he's out of his cage and the like, but...I think he's lonely. He's not playing as much with me, and he has bouts where he'll just curl up next to me on the couch and siiigh with his little head on my leg.

I've been thinking for a long time about getting another ferret, as I've heard that it's a lot easier to care for two instead of one. I'm just wondering if it's much of a big change financially, too. I'd have the money to get one and provide for them for quite a while (I only usually have to buy food and litter once a month or so,) but I'm sort've known for being 'financially paranoid,' and I'm stressing on if it would cost more for food and litter and the like, and also what I'd do if I had to take one of them on an emergency visit to the vet.

I'd just like to know what sort of feedback you guys might have on the situation. Would a second ferret be a good idea at this point in time?

[Deleted]

food and litter won't be the problem, it's those vet bills, as our little ones think its fun to scare their mommies.

when i got my second ferret my first was about 2-3 years, so he was used to being alone, and didn't accept her in easily.
so if you have a shelter near by, i would contact them and see if they have any ferrets

[Deleted]

A second ferret is always a good idea. They can easily bore when alone. My Pixie was an only ferret for a year, and she definitely needed a friend.

That said, I would never recommend another ferret if you can't afford one. I have 2 ferrets, and buy litter once a month. I spend about 30-40$ on food a month. Vet bills are another story. I had to fork out $500 when pixie had a blockage - and she didn't even need surgery. That was just for the visit, x rays, fluids, meds. Of course, only you know what money you can spend and what your limits are. I'd say that having two ferrets doesn't double the cost, but vet bills can arise any time.

[taratee]

the big stresser is the adopting the new fert, when i brought home ichabod for squiggles and she hated him i felt so bad. so when she passed and icha needed someone i made sure to take him with me to pick someone out, there are a few articles on the net about adding to your fam id look some up to prep ive known some ferrets would rather be alone, but for the most part everyone wants a buddy

[Heather]

Make a list. List all the good things, all the bad things (additional expenses, time ...everything). I find it doesn't cost double to bring in a second ferret, but there is additional costs. Food, vet bills (they're always the unknown) There is also the stress of getting that playmate too and the introduction. I too, have the issue of having a solo ferret in a house full of ferrets. He doesn't get along with any of the groups. I'm hoping that a rescue will come along soon that he likes. He's lonely, he misses Napoleon. He sleeps too much, doesn't play enough. I know where you're coming from. Another ferret is what Yuri needs, maybe it's what your little one needs too.
ciao

[whipple]

I'm in the same boat. I'm not of the mindset a ferret should be alone. So I am trying quite hard to convince my roomate to let me get a big snuggly male ferret.

[whiteboy]

i had an only fert for almost a month and she was a handful. as soon as i got her a friend she as calmed down so much with me ( still does not cuddle ). food and such costs are the same but i had to wait to get her friend till i had a bigger cage which is something to think about unless you free roam. vet bills area bit of a pain as always with shots but its well worth the few little costs for my Pandora happiness and i think Axel is happy to have a home to.

[knackers]

Our little guy's going on seven months now, so I don't think he'd have too much trouble bonding with another younger one. I might try to find an adoption center in New York in a couple weeks that I could take him to, to pick someone out. (One that isn't...four and a half hours away. )

The cage I have is pretty big, it's the Superpet with the ground floor and two platforms, and there's easily enough space in it for another hammock. Maybe I'll try to add an addition to Sharkie's and make it a bunkbed. !

As for the vet bills, I think I'll start stashing aside some money for emergencies like that. For now it's just research and patience. The latter never being easy with getting a new baby.

[Deleted]

Just watch out! I started with intending on getting 2 ferrets. I started with Miko and was planing on getting her a bud a little later. When it was time to look for her a bud I was given the opportunity to adopt a bonded pair for free from a shelter. I took them in and they all bonded pretty quick. Their names are Timmy and Zip. Soon I realized, though they bonded well, Timmy and Zip being a little older (around 2) couldn't keep up with Miko who is still just a baby. (only like 8 months) She ended up playing alone a lot. SO I decided we needed another baby to keep up with Miko. So Yeah started off with one and in less than a year have 4!! It will catch up with you REAL QUICK! LOL! Always finding reasons why it's rational to get more. LOL Good luck though. I think the best toy for a ferret is another ferret.

[knackers]

So I checked my money balances this morning, figured out financial stuff and found that getting a second fert wouldn't be an irrational idea.

I'm actually -super- glad that I came home today with another one. We stopped at Petsmart to see if they had any, but no such luck. So we went to the nearby locally run pet store and they had a little brown and white boy. He's a lot leaner and smaller than Sharkie, and I'm guessing he's about 5-7 months old (pet store said they had him for a month or two.) He's close to Shark's age!

The best part of it is that he's been SO well-behaved. No nipping at all, he immediately knew after me putting him in the litter box once that it was where he was supposed to go, and Sharkie is getting along with him wonderfully. They have play-scuffles and Sharkie always seems to come out the victor, if only because he just sits his fat butt down on the little'un's head.

The boyfriend wanted to name him Tyr, so I think that's what we'll be going with. I am super in love right now. MY FERRET DUO IS LE AWESOME. Now I'll just have to think about switching them to raw/whole when I have the time. x3

[Deleted]

Great news Nikki! you will thoroughly enjoy your pair's antics and there's nothing funnier than watching ferret battles

[Heather]

I'm glad that you went out and bought a new furbaby for your little one. I'm thinking seriously of perhaps doing this myself but I'm hoping that a rescue will come this way and fill the hole that Napoleon left with Yuri
ciao

[Sherry]

Um.....so, uh- WHERE'S THE PICS?? Hmmmm?

[Deleted]

How can you talk about a new little fuzz and NOT show us pictures
Congrats on the ferret math!

[darlene]

Congrats on your new boy Can't wait to see pics