See: <http://www.smartgroups.com/message/viewdiscussion.cfm? gid=1423922&messageid=17995> because there are some related things being discussed I heard back from Dr. Fish. He said that the ferrets used for the metabolic studies were of hunting stock and on the lean side, also that he suspects that the fat difference between them and mink would not be statistically significant. As for the limb density questions and genetics ones he said that they are harder questions with too little known, and that his own focus is not genetics so he can't speak to that. He did say that some aspects might be interesting to look at in future studies. The ferret swimming study WILL be available on his website in the future! http://darwin.wcupa.edu/~biology/fish/pubs/publications.html -- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts) Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them: Ferret Health List http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ AFIP Ferret Pathology http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html Miamiferrets http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ International Ferret Congress Critical References http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5317]