Hi all... I am a total newbie to the world of 'carpetsharks', but am very interested. I saw the FAQ in comp.answers, then signed up for the FML and have been lurking for a few days. I am living in Irving, TX, where the FAQ said the little rugrats were specifically legal, but illegal in several of the surrounding areas. I also stopped by a local pet store, and they had 10+ running around that they had just recently acquired, most of which were about 7-10 weeks old. The kits were neutered and descented, as well as having had their Canine Distemper shots. The Pet sore was asking $200 for the little guys. I've seen ads in the paper for anywhere from $85 to $150, but I'm guessing these may not be neutered or de-scented and/or vaccinated. So, my questions are these: 1) Is this a decent price? 2) Am I better off going with a breeder? (I would think so) 3) What is the right age to get if I am a first-time owner? I would like to get a young one, but I don't know that I could handle all the training. I am single and work all day, so I would only be around in the evenings and weekends. Would I have to keep him/her/them in their cage all day while I was at work? 4) It seems that almost all of the traffic on here is about illnesses. Are they _that_ prone to illness? 5) What else does a newbie who is interested learning more need to know and where do you suggest I learn it? TIA for all constructive responses, and I apologize for all the newbie questions. Matt Gordon [Posted in FML issue 1048]