Just so everyone knows, no ferrets have been harmed, can't say as much for their human caretaker though... Oh my where to start! My group of rainbow kids make the energizer bunny look like a turtle. They are so very active, very intent on whatever they want, full of attitude, energetic, strong, and smart. They are very enthusiastic when they play, even at 2 yrs old they have the wild abandon of a youngster. None of my rainbows are cuddlers but they do adore affection (sssshhhh don't tell anybody!!!). Last night I was eating a snack, chocolate to be exact, and Xena wanted to see what I was eating. Now you'll need to know that Xena tries everything I eat, just one little lick or bite no matter what it is even if it elicits one of THOSE looks, so telling her NO was like talking to the wall. I must have put her on the floor 10 times and each time she ran up the ramp and tried to bully her way onto my lap to taste the goodies. Raising the plate over my head only caused her to try and climb my arm so I finally gave up and stood up to finish eating. So what did she do? Climbed my sweats! I gave up, packaged up the remainder and put it away. sigh. Look up persistance in the dictionary and there should be a picture of a Rainbow ferret. Has anyone's parent called them 'bullheaded'? Hmph. They never met a rainbow ferret. Temperments seem to be a bit cranky with this group and tend to pick up bullying very easily. I've seen them gang up 3 on 1 even when some of the 'gang' were friends with the victim. I'm guessing someone says the wrong thing and the fuss ensues but there is definitely a pack mentality here. Of course I have the hooligans of the Rainbow bunch. Onyx is determined to make mince-meat out of Tazzy. Tazzy is fast enough to get away which only adds to Onyx's anger. I end up chasing that ferret all through the house as he darts in and out of tubes to get away from me. I put him back in the cage 30 minutes later when I finally capture him.... every time. Next time I let him out he's running after the baby again. Onyx is one that has bouts of pasturella episodes, seems like it's every time the weather changes and in Kansas that's often, but it doesn't slow him down. Heck when I'm sick I slow down so it only stands to reason that he should. Maybe I need to read that rule book to him... When Sully and Onyx are out I spend the time chasing them down and running them off from others they are after. Because of such attitudes I've taken to stamping my feet loudly when I run after them. Makes me giggle when they run for cover! Sabre had his leg broke on purpose by a store employee when he was a baby. You'd not know it now. He is a furry bundle of energy. I have to squish him to my chest if I want a hug then when I let him down you'd think his little legs were springs! Another thing I've noticed with the Rainbows is a different smell to them. It's much sharper than a typical ferret smell. Xena is a territory marker, and apparently my entire house is her territory, so my carpet needs steam cleaned often and floors mopped frequently. As to the Pasturella and strep, they are contagious bacteria spread through spray from sneezes and coughs. It is treatable but not curable. A simple trachea swab will determine infection, which is how we found it in ours. I monitor for signs and start meds right away. The sooner the meds are started the better for these little ones. In my experience, all my rainbows had pasturella and/or strep but not all my other ferrets contracted it, some do and fight it off on their own, some have recurring bouts. The first round 65% of my group contracted it. Some that didn't then, did later. Of my group 9% have recurring bouts with the possibility of infecting others. In some the first few days can be the worst and some ferrets will appear to be terribly sick to the point of not making it, but within a few days of medicating they start feeling better. My group of rainbows are precious energetic ferrets with attitudes! Wouldn't trade them for anything. tle www.ferretfamilyservices.org [Posted in FML 5925]