This is absolutely NOT intended as a flame to anyone! It is just to air my concerns over quarantining new ferrets. I have read and heard of many, many people (not just on the FML) getting new ferrets and taking them home to meet the rest of the family or in the case of a shelter to intermix with the other shelter kids. I run a shelter for the GLFA and I also breed and show so I am very concerned with possible contagious diseases being introduced to my ferrets. When I receive a new ferret, it is put in quarantine for 2 weeks. After this period they are introduced to only 1 or 2 other ferrets. If these ferrets don't break with anything, then and only then are they integrated into my ferretry. Please don't flame me about exposing only a couple of ferrets at first, better to find out that way than to have 100+ ferrets come down with something. Not only is ECE and distemper a concern, but also common things like the flu. I have seen ferrets with "colds" suddenly develop pneumonia and it is not fun. They are in extreme distress and need to be force fed and receive SQ fluids. So please everyone, think twice before bringing home a new baby and plopping him or her down with the rest of your ferrets. It could save you a lot of heartache (not to mention vet bills). I know it can be hard not to, but it is in the best interests of all your ferrets, including the new one. That's just my .02, if you don't agree, so be it. Tracy and the fuzzies [Posted in FML issue 1676]