>From: Nancy Brenny <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Pet stores and young ferrets I know I am including other animals in my reply and I hope no one minds. I felt it was necessary as the poster I am replying to referred to ferrets *and* other animals. >Ferrets, like other animals are separated from their mother and siblings >at a young age. One of the biggest reasons is because they will start >inbreeding if you don't separate them. Since when does a ferret start inbreeding at 6 or 7 weeks? Heck, you'd have to be raising Hamsters and Mice to get inbreeding this young. Even Guinea Pigs and Rabbits aren't sexually mature at this age! >So of course ferrets and other animals are sold a young age like 6 of 7 >weeks. So before you go off and blaming all the pet stores, maybe you >should look at nature. Are you saying that in nature animals are cast from the nest to avoid inbreeding at 6 weeks? Perhaps you should really do a little more research into this. Different animals benefit from different seperation times. Ferrets are one that is better socially adjusted from a longer period with mom. As a petstore employee, the knowledge you give to a potential owner can mean the difference between life and death for an animal. Never stop learning! >Karen Michelle [Posted in FML issue 3027]