>Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to communicate w/him? He >bites sometimes really hard and I give him a one finger tap, tap on >the nose and instinctively say "NO", but I know he can't hear me Sounds like Simon may be an alpha (dominant Duke) and that may have more to do with his aggressive behaviour and penchant for biting, than his deafness. I would suggest the scruff and drag method to get the message across. Its what Momma would have done. When he bites you or anyone else, grab him firmly by the scruff and drag him a short distance across the floor while giving him a 'MILD' shake. That will get his attention. He'll either get the message right away or will test to see if you really mean it, by turning around and trying to bite you. Then you put him in time out immediately, that is, confine him to his cage ALONE and ignore him completely. Let him out again only if he's settled down. If he's biting at the cage or frantically running around in there - IGNORE HIM, don't even glance at him. When out if he aims for Alexander again - repeat the scruff and drag. Isolate again if necessary. Repeat as often as you need to. He will eventually learn to be more submissive to your dominance. You've gotta be the maternal alpha (top Mama ferret) and he needs to understand what it is you want from him. I know some people do use the 'tap on nose' as a discipline, but all it really does is teach the ferret to be afraid of your hands, which will only create a fear bite response. He's not likely enjoying to cuddle and squirming to get away from those hands that might reach out and tap his nose. If you consider that he can't hear then his other senses will be more acute, especially the sense of touch. Touching should be associated with loving. In terms of the scruff and drag, that is what mother would have done, so its not inconsistent with loving touch. Its communicating to him in the language of ferrets, which he will understand. Good luck and let us know how Simon does. Tressie A. Dutchyn, MA ID PhD student, Dalhousie University Research Associate Atlantic Interdisciplinary Research Network for Social & Behavioral Issues Hepatitis C & HIV/AIDS Department of Community Health & Epidemiology Faculty of Medicine Dalhousie University [Posted in FML 5774]