>From:    Gina Fritz <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Question for the experts
>Yesterday I was in the local petstore... I came across three ferrets in a
>cage that appeared to be in good condition except there was no food in the
>bowl.  So I notified one of the store employees, "hey just wanted to give
>you a heads up the ferrets are out of food." The response I received was
>"they are only feed twice a day and they already ate earlier that morning"
>and "if you feed them more than twice they will get fat and we have been
>in business for 20 years and have had good luck with our animals."
>My question... is this true that it is okay to only feed them twice a day?
 
I'm certainly not an expert, but when I was talking to the person from the
animal lab near me where I get feed mice, she was telling me that (although
they don't usually use ferrets in the lab) they once got some in from
another lab..  They fed them twice a day, a mouse each.  I presume this is
probably fairly standard lab proceedure since I don't see them setting up
nice little feeder boxes and ferret pellets.  This might incidate that if
the feeds are spaced apart so that they don't reach the period where they
start getting sick, it might be alright.
 
You might want to point out to them though, that basic biology shows that
large meals occasionly make you put on weight, where as small meals more
often keep things flowing through and keep you thinner.
 
I'd also say they would be happier being able to eat when they're hungry,
rather than only eating when they're fed..  I'd guess the feeding times
aren't evenly spaced, and the bigger, bossier ferrets probably get more
food.
 
- Reet
[Posted in FML issue 2899]