I must say, after buying my last ferret, I am done with buying from Marshall farms (with the exception of any I rescue. I could care less where a ferret in need of a home came from) I will not buy from Petco or the pet store again. I am not a rescue by the way, but if there are unwanted ferrets in town I will take them in and keep them or find them homes =] I bought a ferret from Petco back in December 2010. My last two Marshalls were active and slender (not terribly skinny). This one, although active as a kit, he has grown into being a very lazy adult. He is FAT.. Really fat, which isn't normal for such a young ferret. All jello too, no muscle. He does play with my other ferret but much prefers lying in your lap being petted. Also, he tires fast. After an hour of play he is ready for bed. I think the early, sudden switch to dry food as a kit may account for his overweight or it could be Marshall's poor genetics. I love him to bits, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade him for anything. I don't think this is normal for a ferret though. Especially since he's only 6 months old! My friend paid the $400 and drove the 4 hour drive for a breeder ferret. He is so much larger, muscular, and active than any Marshall ferret I've ever owned. I think if I'm ever short on ferret friends I might make the same sacrifice for one from a breeder. I don't think there are old and new styles from Marshall, I think they just have a variety of ferrets and poor care at a young age. Some studies have shown the early weaning of some species can cause a distrust of food, hence overeating. Perhaps this could account for their fat ferrets =] ---amanda [Posted in FML 7028]