Message Number: SG8813 | New FHL Archives Search
From: ndavies@themortgagedepotinc.com
Date: 2004-05-17 20:30:55 UTC
Subject: non-sexual (i think) aggression
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2644842.1084825855612.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

Hello all,

We have 3 ferrets, all approximately 5 years old. The two males are littermates, and have lived together there whole lives (we got them approximately 15 months ago), the female we've had for nearly 5 years now.

When we first got the males, they all seemed to be great buddies. Occasionally (read once ever couple of weeks), we would notice the larger of the males grabbing his brother or the female by the back of the neck, or ear, and pulling them to where he wanted them. The pulled didn't seem to mind too much, certainly no squealing, hissing, or anything of that nature.

Approximately 3 weeks ago, the large male apparently began to bite down harder, and seems to have taken a liking to the ears of both the other two. He constantly bites them on the side of the head (at the ear), and won't let go. The bitten obviously do not enjoy this very much, and squeal and hiss quite loudly.

Any ideas as to why he would have suddenly taken on this much more aggressive behavior? Any ideas on how to stop it?