If you can stand to hear MHO; I can't quite swallow the blanket statement that MF ferrets are more sickly than non-MF ferrets. I must say that in the two months I've been on the FML, I've been reading about an awful lot of sick fuzzies and so many of them are not from MF, so I don't think that it's a fair conclusion to make. And in somewhat of a defense to MF (although I don't approve of all of their breeding practices) I would like to say that if it weren't for MF selling their ferrets to my local pet shop, I would never have been introduced to the joy of these wonderful little beings. I wouldn't trade my two MF fuzzies for anything in the world. They are two of the most gentle and loving creatures in the universe. And I hardly had to train them not to bite people. They NEVER bite anyone and I take them to all kinds of school classrooms where they can be trusted with children. They only demonstrate kisses! And while I'm on the subject of sick fuzzies, I want to know if anyone else on the FML is ever paranoid about the health of their babies when reading all the illness possibilities of them. I know I would rather be an informed "mom" for the sake of my pets, but it really does depress me sometimes to hear about all the sad diseases these little guys can get. One of mine has already had adrenal surgery and I must admit that I would have realized sooner what the problem was if I had been more informed, but sometimes I'm just looking for symptoms assuming that they will get ill. And it doesn't help hearing people labeling my MF loved ones as weakened or defective spawn. It seems to me that there are plenty of sick ferrets out there from a lot of different breeders. If you want to do a scientific survey to see if MF has a higher incidence of congenital weaknesses, then please be my guest. But I would guess that there are just a whole lot more of their animals around which would account for the percentages you suggest. IMHO. Gaye Ferret Bueller & Houdini P.S. This is not meant to be a flame. I just wanted some of you to know how a lot of us MF ferret owners feel. [Posted in FML issue 1817]