Last week I reported the addition of Charlotte and Gizmo to our family.
They're doing fine, but the fighting with Momo (Maurice) has escalated.  Oh,
dear.  I've read recent posts about introducing new to "old" ferrets, and I
know that some battling is to be expected, but I can't stand this!
Charlotte weighs under a pound, Momo nearly 4 lbs.  We call Momo the sugar
weasel because he's soooooo sweet.  And when Charlotte attacked him
repeatedly on her first night here, he was obviously miserable--climbed on
my lap to escape & stayed there until he fell asleep.  But Momo has
undergone a transformation -- and not for the better!  He seems to have
decided that this fighting thing is most interesting & has become aggressive
with both Charlotte and Gizmo.  He not only bites *hard* (he has huge neck &
jaw muscles) but he also spins, rolling over and over once he's got a good
grip.  Charlotte hides in little cracks where his tubby body can't go, but
he just lies down at the entrance to her hideout & waits to ambush her when
she reappears.
 
This is getting tiresome!  (for me as well as--I'm pretty sure-- for
Charlotte & little Gizzy).  Someone please tell me that it won't last!  I
don't want Momo to turn into a bully -- I've even given him a little spank
on the bottom when I pull him off of his victim of the moment.  (And that
makes me feel terrible too -- how can I spank my sugar weasel -- my
sweetheart who snuggles & gives kisses?) It doesn't help that Charlotte is
such a screamer.  Does anyone else have a screaming ferret?  She does it
mainly when she's attacking (these days, in self defense) and I think it's
meant to frighten off the dangerous aggressor.
 
Thanks for listening.  Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.
Dina
[Posted in FML issue 1428]