Don't believe the garbage.  A dark eyed white is a dark eyed white.  One
that comes from Marshall is no different really than one from somewhere
else.  It is very rare to have a dark eyed ferret with absolutely NO dark
hairs but $400 is ridiculous for any ferret.  We breed and actually
managed to get a DEW (Dark eyed white not Black eyed since they almost
always have ruby pupils and irises of some other color - mine have blue
eyes).  Dark eyed whites tend to have more genetic problems - the better
breeders are slowly trying to fix this - since serious in-breeding went
on to get the first DEWs.
 
A DEW around here (Northern Virginia) would cost more than any other
color/pattern of equal conformation (body structurea and such).  But a
DEW with bad bones and weak muscle tone would cost LESS than a good solid
breeding Sable.  Most breeders also tend to sell ferrets as pets for less
than ferrets as breeders.
 
It would have to be a truly remarkable animal to be more than even $200
dollars though.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
[Posted in FML issue 1200]