Greetings FML readers! <:{{{{{{{{)----- This is my first time writing in, but I've enjoyed reading everyone's inputs each day so much that I thought that I should join the family. Also mark me down as a tattooed mom! I have three tribal tattoos (the sun-on my left thigh, the moon-on my right thigh, and flower-which represents land/earth on my stomach) Next I'm looking for something that represents water to put on my lower back......but all this talk about ferret tattoos...sounds intriguing...I love my little scuttle-butts!!! I have eight piercings(one on the tounge) too. It is funny because if you saw me you would never guess. I'm the shock at my office here in Arlington, VA. No one would have guessed that I have tats, piercing, tons of pets, and ride a Harley. I live with my fiance and his parents (mom and pop). I mentioned that I have tons of pets (they aren't actually all mine, but between mom and me!!) Mom had ferrets first-(she basically took custody after the original owners just decided they were too much hassle.) *Mom is the biggest pet lover in the world!!!!(she once stayed up day and night to nurse a little kitten that she found in a ditch back to life AFTER the vet said that it would be dead by morning and that it should be put down--mom couldn't do it and despite what the vet said, the kitten lived a full life, but passed away about five years ago)---just wanted to give you a better feeling of mom* So, when I moved in, mom had two ferrets. Harley and Twist. Harley died of adreanal :( shortly after I moved in....that was a sad day...my condolenses to all of you with sick or angeled fuzzies :( Soon after that I got my first ferret Blaze (she's a blaze!), and my fiance said that she shouldn't be alone, so the next day we went back and got her brother Buddy (he's a brown sable). Buddy was really vocal at first-always running around honking(dook! dook!) It was so cute!!(we almost called him Goose-cuz he sure sounded like one!) That was the start of our little family. A few months later I saw the cutest baby (he is like a cream/liver color-hard to describe) I had to have him, and his name is Baby Jake (it still is even though he's grown, and we have since gotten a new baby) Buddy and Blaze were like teenagers at this point, and Twist was an old gal (3years) and she really didn't want to be bothered much with the wrestling, so Mom went out an got another baby to play with Baby Jake. She named her baby Tigger. *Tigger had a sad story: If anyone might have an idea what happened to him, please let me know-it is still a mystery to us...we are guessing heart disease but the vet said his heart sounded fine. When Tigger first came home he ran around and played with Baby Jake, after a few weeks, he would just play for about ten minutes, and then find Mom's slipper, beg to be picked up, and all he would want is for Mom to hold him. While Baby Jake was growing and getting bigger, little Tigger stayed the same size (no bigger than a hand's length plus a tail) He died in his sleep one night (at about 5-6 months old) poor baby!! :( we still miss him. We have little Tigger toys all around for the other kids to play with-just a reminder of our little guy.<:{{}}~* A few months ago, I went over to a girl's house who was in one of my classes and she had a ferret that was 3 years old. It was in a cage all by itself with no toys and padding. She said she never had time for him, so I could have him. I took him home with me and gave him to Mom. His name is Bear and he's the biggest ferret in the house!! About a month ago, Mom and I both got another baby (we were in Petco, and saw these babies that were definately weaned and nuetered TOO young. They still had their baby teeth!!! I think they were only 1.5-2months old!!) We had to take them home and baby them. I got a baby girl sable and named her Mary Jane (to go with Baby Jake). She has since lost her bottom baby teeth(fangs) but still has the top. Mom got a black-eyed white, and named her Angel. She has lost all of her baby teeth, so I'm guessing she's a bit older, it also looks like she's getting a black stripe down her back-but we aren't sure yet. only time will tell. So, in total that makes 8 little scuttle-butts! To add to that list of pets we also have 6 little fluffy white dogs-Cozy, Henson, Figit, Basil, Bubby, and Scruffy (had two, but when they had puppies mom couldn't give them up) 1 tuxedo cat-Shadow (found her under the shed) 1 tuxedo Pit-Rock (we keep him away from Mom's ankle biters) 1 siberian hamster-Pikachu and 2 fish tanks (sorry, I don't name my fish) We are all one big happy family (although the CAT gets put away, when the FERRETS come out to play!!) Speaking of play-I know someone mentioned getting a sand box for her ferrets to play in....I have an alternative. Reason: I was nervous that the sand might get in the rascals eyes while they were burrowing and possible scratch or damage them. SO, I have this huge clear plastic bin (you know the kind for storage at Target-approx 15" deep) and I filled it with rice about a 7 inches deep. The rice works just as good as sand if not better. Then sometimes I bury treats in the rice and they go digging for them. Pretty neat!! And when I'm not using it, I can put the lid on and the rice stays safe and contained. The deep container is good too because when they dig they can sure send that stuff flying. I hope you all try it, I haven't met a ferret yet who didn't love it. Well, I best be going---I'm sorry for having written such a long entry, but I had to introduce you to all my kids!! ~Val and all the little BEASTIES p.s. I want to thank Joe Fry for introducing me to the FML, and "HI" to his daughter and her 8 little guys!!!(I work with your dad) [Posted in FML issue 3314]