Jumpin Fuzzbutts, Let me try to answer your questions without being long winded: >Situation: -- lost one of the boys. Our Merlin is about 4 years old and >had been with his companion since a baby. Merlin is having a hard time >coping without his buddy. > ># 1 ~ We have a chance to adopt a very young female - probably less than >a year old? She does not appear to be spayed as of yet....it is not a >problem having her spayed > ># 2 ~ We can adopt a " bonded pair" of females about 3-4 years of age. >Spayed. But one is a biter. > ># 3 ~ We could adopt all 3?? IF......my husband will go for it!! > >Is there one choice that is the best? Second? Third? > >With work and love - will a 3-4 year old ferret come around and stop >biting? Is it possible that it could not get along with ours and bite >and cause harm to our Merlin? There are a lot of questions that you have to answer for yourself and your family though about all three situations. Get all 3 - that would be great --but-- do they get a long? Will they get along with your current ferret? Can you take on all of the added responsibility of 4 ferrets? Everyone has a different limit to the amount of ferrets that they can care for and be happy with the time they get with the ferrets. sometimes it's just 2 other times its 20. It is up to the person. Some ferrets just won't get along with others. If this were to be the case with your kids, would you do separate play times for them for the rest of their lives? Have you seen them? Played with them? Taken your ferret there to see and play with them? Remember, the new additions are for him. so it would help to see if they get along first, no matter which one you choose. As for the biting. We had a horrible biter come in when we first started the shelter. She was an abused breeder ferret and would bite down to the bone (and yes, that hurts!). After a couple months of handling and love and "'training" on all parts. She was able to be adopted out. She still had to learn to trust her new dad, but she did great with him. We see her once a year. and she looks great and isn't biting anymore. So, yes, they can stop biting but you have to be willing to get bit and willing to work with the ferret and learn. I know that didn't answer your questions too well. but mainly, you have to decide for yourself which one you and your whole family (including Merlin) want and get along with. As for my opinion. I'd see all the ferrets, and see if they can get along. If a couple got along with my ferret then I would take them all and the ones that didn't get along, I would have separate play times. I think that 3 or more ferrets is better because if something should happen to one there is still another buddy. But, as I said, every situation is different with everyone. Also, talk with the shelter that has the ferrets. Let them know your concerns and thoughts. Feel free to contact me if you need anything. Joanne Ruffner Ferret Corner Shelter www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz [Posted in FML issue 4554]