A note to the owner of crazy silver mitt and badger: I have two silver mitts, Hoover and Squeegy. Squeegy is a nut. He dances and flips and is full of energy (a little slower now, as a three year old). He especially likes to flip on his back and bite his own rear end. :) He knows how to open drawers, and he answers the doorbell. Hoover, however, is not nearly as rambunctious. He is slower and more methodical. Not to say, slow intelligence-wise. He knows about the third dimension, whereas Squeegy does not. Hoover climbs almost everything. He gets on my table every day and Squeegy never has. Squeegy is a cuddler and a lover; Hoover wants to squirm away from you ASAP. Hoover is calm and self-posessed, and Squeegy runs out of his cage every day and does a little spaz dance. We call him the Super Freak. The point here is that I think you are seeing more of your Silver mitt's unique personality traits, than a trait related to her genetics and coat color. My problem is, I am fairly sure Squeegy has blackheads on his tail. My questions are: 1. How do I know for sure they are blackheads? Should we visit the vet? 2. What causes blackheads in ferrets? 3. How do I treat them? Squeegy always bites his own tail, from the day I brought him home. I think it is a little itchier to him, and he has lost a little hair. Some hair has regrown. I do not see any black spots on Hoover's tail. Thanks to any respondents. If you have had experience with this, I would love to hear any information. Thank you, Lori Squeegy, "Mom, none of the girls like me because I have this, um, skin problem." Hoover, "What, I can't hear you, I'm on the table." [Posted in FML issue 1817]