One aspect of breeding for appearance alone has been totally missed in this discussion and that is the forgotten ferrets. I can't forget these ferrets because when Steve and I could afford to do so we took in some of the "rejects", the ferrets who wound up with the worst symptoms of their appearance related mutations. I am glad that some breeders and farms do find homes for these ferrets because there are those who just put them down, which is why on some sites when genetics are discussed people have gotten in the habit of saying "culling by sterilization" instead of just "culling". Yes, there are ferrets in genetic groups such as those with neural crest genetic medical disorders, angora genetics, and others who wind up being "freebies" to purchase. (Recall, though, that their medical care can reach into the 5 figures.) It takes a lot of work to help them and keep them comfortable. They can wind up with quite a range of malformations, many painful, such as skull changes, fur growing in nostrils which cuts off both breathing and drainage and can lead to chronic infection, jaws which can't open fully, connective tissue problems, and a great deal more. So, if you like a certain look remember to also think about the individuals who aren't being sold and may even have been destroyed because they got the worst of the symptoms. Start a new trend. Remember the forgotten ones for a change and use that as a guide to decide whose breeding practices you will encourage in words or from wallet. [Posted in FML issue 4681]