Snakes and Ferrets...is that okay?

Hey everyone, so my girlfriend wants to get a ferret and I'm worried if its okay if there are snakes in the same house as the ferret? I mean a ferret is a weasel so won't it try to get to the snakes? maybe even kill them? Won't the smell of the snakes attract the ferret and make it go crazy?

I just don't want to come home and find all my snakes and reptiles dead.....
Let me know if I'm crazy or what lol

Ferrets will kill and eat reptiles I believe. You can keep them in the same house, just make sure they are ALWAYS separate. Its like reptiles and cats. Everyone gets space, just not the same space.

Yeah that makes sense....Seems like a ferret would be way worse then a cat...

Yep, my cats aren't allowed near the snake tubs, which also have lids that small cat paws can't pry up, just in case. When I have the snakes out, kitties and dog are banished to a separate room

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I would never let my snakes around my 4 ferrets. Ferrets are crazy and could kill them, and snakes could defense strike, and yeah, no.

My dog can be in the same room when I'm holding the snakes or my Bearded Dragon because she is very well behaved and has grown up with reptiles and..everything haha.

Ferrets are just...ferrets haha You should get two ferrets, never really just one. Ferrets are extremely social and really need another ferret.

I do have a ferret as well as balls. They are always kept separate, but the ferret really does not seem to notice them overly much.

If I have one of my snakes out in the living room at the computer with me and the fuzzy wanders by, he doesn't pay attention to the fact that one is there. Does that mean I ever want a ferret in the same room with a snake that is not in my hands ? NOPE.

Ferrets are natural predators, and most are very active and very mischievous. An unsecured snake, even in it's own room, runs a risk. Ferrets can and will squeeze into impossible places, just like a ball will. In that showdown, the snake is almost guaranteed to come out the looser. So, yes it can be done, but do it with especial care.

Gale

I would definately have your snakes in a completely seperate room with a closed ferret proof door, or vice versa. Ferrets will kill snakes, birds, fish and many other reptiles and amphibians. They're a lot like cats, if you think a cat would be a problem, then a ferret will be twice as bad. I would also suggest, if you haven't already, that you do a lot of re-search before you buy a ferret. There is a lot more to taking care of them then petstores let on or know themselves.

I keep snakes and I have three ferrets. They never meet. EVER. And they never should. A ferret would more than likely kill a snake as they do occasionally in the wild, but by no means would the smell of a snake make them "go wild". They don't usually eat snakes, their main diet consists of small rodents and the occasional bird.

You'll be perfectly fine with the two species so long as they NEVER EVER EVER meet.

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Originally Posted by Alexandra V

I keep snakes and I have three ferrets. They never meet. EVER. And they never should. A ferret would more than likely kill a snake as they do occasionally in the wild, but by no means would the smell of a snake make them "go wild". They don't usually eat snakes, their main diet consists of small rodents and the occasional bird.

You'll be perfectly fine with the two species so long as they NEVER EVER EVER meet.

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We have introduced of pythons to our cats at a very young age. They have interaction with each other under supervision of course. The pythons know the cats are not food and the cats understand the snakes are not toys. I would not place a ferret in the same habitat with your pythons; I think you would be asking for trouble.

I also have ferrets and snakes :) I have to say ferrets are one of the sweetest furries I've ever owned, maybe I've just had some nasty pet cats... They never bite (some do I know) and always can make you laugh. :) I agree they shouldn't be allowed near snakes because ferrets are possible of killing reptiles.

Ferrets are very good at getting out of cages so you should always have a lock of their cages just like your snakes. If you are responsible with your animals, these two, ferrets and snakes, should never have a reason to meet!

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Originally Posted by AkHerps

Ferrets are just...ferrets haha You should get two ferrets, never really just one. Ferrets are extremely social and really need another ferret.

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I agree with this completely!! I started out with just one ferret that was very mellow at first at almost acted depressed. Never seeming to have fun or behave like most ferrets do. As soon as I got my second baby girl the first ferret went nuts! The love each other! Sleep together, play together. The first ferret is like a whole new ferret now. Kind of like reptiles... you can't just have one.

We had 2 ferrets and never had issues with them and our reptiles. Just have them out at seperate times. Our ferrets would actually bounce around one of our tanks. I have mostly rack systems but, my sons BP is in a tank. They go crazy when he's out! Never really aggresive. Just extremely curious! It's amusing! But, like others have stated. Ferrets need a friend. I'd recommend 2.

I have my 2 ferrets in the same room as my BPs, imposible for them to escape and impossible for the snakes to escape. I dont think the "essence" lol, of Ferret is even noticed by the snakes, they still pick up "mouse/rat" scent as soon as dinner enters their cage.

I have 4 ferrets the only thing I will mention is you need to make sure to ferret proof. Very well. Ferrets have the uncanny ability to get into things. Even things you think are to high for them to get into. 1 ferret needs a lot of activity. They get bored and depressed easily if they don't get enough play time. That's why others have mentioned having more than 1. But as far as having snakes and them I've never had a problem with the snakes but I've had issues with the ferrets trying to get to the snakes. They are natural enemies. A ferrets instinct with any reptile is to get it kill it and eat it. For me anyways I love my furries but they are quite a lot of work.

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Originally Posted by angllady2

I do have a ferret as well as balls. They are always kept separate, but the ferret really does not seem to notice them overly much.

If I have one of my snakes out in the living room at the computer with me and the fuzzy wanders by, he doesn't pay attention to the fact that one is there. Does that mean I ever want a ferret in the same room with a snake that is not in my hands ? NOPE.

Ferrets are natural predators, and most are very active and very mischievous. An unsecured snake, even in it's own room, runs a risk. Ferrets can and will squeeze into impossible places, just like a ball will. In that showdown, the snake is almost guaranteed to come out the looser. So, yes it can be done, but do it with especial care.

Gale

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See thats what worries me....

I have a safe room for mine that they play in all day. It has all their toys in it has been ferret proofed and more importantly only my Leo and tokay colony in it. Which means tanks on utility racks that are high enough so the furries can't climb up on the tanks. Their cage is in the same room and at night they go peepee night night in a secure 5 tier cage with locking doors. When you have snakes or any reptiles and ferrets more than special care needs to go into planning their area and everyones needs.

Yes, I do not believe in letting ferrets run your home. It is way too dangerous and bad things can and will happen. When one of my ferrets was a baby she got a hold of an earplug for sleeping, chewed off a piece and ate it, and 1 very expensive surgery later...I learned to keep an eye on her and let her only play in a room that I have inspected. Now I have 4 ferrets and the room is a great idea, even if it is a small room, or a bathroom(with toilet closed) haha it is a lot safer than your whole house with electric chords, rubber, plastic, everythinggggg. They spend about 4-6 hours a day in their room, a couple with me playing with them, and then I let them do their thing and act like crazy ferrets.

If you are not paying attention to your ferrets long enough for them to escape, find your snakes, and figure out a way to get in their cages, something needs to change.

Agreed! When people come to me asking If ferrets are good pets I say sure if you watch them like a hawk or have a safe room for them. They still get to come out and play when both mom and dad can watch and they aren't allowed downstairs. The two boys love to run down the stairs they practically tumble down them and the girls could care less. Point is is even if you have 1 or 2 an eye needs to be on Both at the same time. Always expect them to get in something they shouldn't.

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

I have 4 ferrets the only thing I will mention is you need to make sure to ferret proof. Very well. Ferrets have the uncanny ability to get into things. Even things you think are to high for them to get into. 1 ferret needs a lot of activity. They get bored and depressed easily if they don't get enough play time. That's why others have mentioned having more than 1. But as far as having snakes and them I've never had a problem with the snakes but I've had issues with the ferrets trying to get to the snakes. They are natural enemies. A ferrets instinct with any reptile is to get it kill it and eat it. For me anyways I love my furries but they are quite a lot of work.

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This is very, very true! My friends one year for christmas decided to buy me a ferret because I made one passing comment months before at a pet store that they were cute. Well, needless to say I was surprised when one popped out of a box with a bow on it's neck on christmas eve. I felt to bad to tell my friends that I didn't want it, especially after the money they spent on him. So I kept him...it was a nightmare. The term "Ferret Proofing" your house does not me baby gates and shut doors. It's a full fledged, amagedon, super project that would make Bob Veela run crying for his mommy. I also was working two jobs and was only home about ten hours a day, and six of those were spent sleeping. Ferrets need a lot of time, and a lot of interaction. I also did not have the money to buy another one for companionship (a must) and the Marshal's Ferret Food is very, very expensive. Also, if you are at all worried about smell, let me just say this: Ferrets smell. There are many things you can do to control how badly they smell, but they will always smell a little. Sadly I finally realized I just couldn't take care of mine like I needed to, so I gave him to a lady at our church who was a friend and she already had two that went everywhere with her and her husband. They even had their picture taken with them for the church directory lol. So rule on this "don't buy ferrets because they're cute and fun only" because there is a lot of work that comes with it.

BUT, ferrets are cute and fun, and if you give them their own little room, they actually are very easy to take care of. Yes, giving them run of your house is much more troublesome and I don't suggest it, but some people do it. Marshall's food is not very good for them, it is just marked up expensive. There are a lot of other foods out there, and many people feed their ferrets a mixture of high quality ferret foods and high quality kitten foods.

My ferrets do not smell, ferrets themselves do not smell bad. Ferrets, males in particular, have a musky odor. Many people find the odor of musk repulsive, therefore, they smell bad, and then, a lot of people bathe their ferrets. This makes them smell 10 times worse because now their skin has to secrete more oily musk to make up for what you washed off. My ferrets are very clean, and their cage has blankets and cool fleece patterns everywhere because they are litter trained just like a cat. Even playing outside their cage they go in a litter box :) It takes a little work and patience, but it is worth it if you guys go through with it.

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Originally Posted by AkHerps

BUT, ferrets are cute and fun, and if you give them their own little room, they actually are very easy to take care of. Yes, giving them run of your house is much more troublesome and I don't suggest it, but some people do it. Marshall's food is not very good for them, it is just marked up expensive. There are a lot of other foods out there, and many people feed their ferrets a mixture of high quality ferret foods and high quality kitten foods.

My ferrets do not smell, ferrets themselves do not smell bad. Ferrets, males in particular, have a musky odor. Many people find the odor of musk repulsive, therefore, they smell bad, and then, a lot of people bathe their ferrets. This makes them smell 10 times worse because now their skin has to secrete more oily musk to make up for what you washed off. My ferrets are very clean, and their cage has blankets and cool fleece patterns everywhere because they are litter trained just like a cat. Even playing outside their cage they go in a litter box :) It takes a little work and patience, but it is worth it if you guys go through with it.

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Sorry lol I didn't mean for it to sound like I thought they smell bad, just that they have a smell to them. I don't think they smell bad at all, but my mom thought it was the worst thing she had ever smelled lol. I don't think ferrets are bad pets, I never would have gotten rid of mine if I had more time for him, and could have gotten another one. I was also really young (like 19) and wasn't very responsible at the time. I'm just saying ferrets take a lot of time, and a lot of responsibility, more so than a cat or dog even. I just don't want someone making the same mistake I did, I'm lucky I knew someone so nice that was a complete ferret lover to take mine in.

They are alot of work. The Petstore make them seem like a very easy pet. But we all know that's to make a sale. Most people that buy their first ferret in the Petstore are generally highly misinformed about them. Think of it this way. Having 1 ferret is like having a permanent 2 year old. Having more then 1 which is the recommended way of keeping them is like having twin infants for the rest of their lives. But they are great pets if you have the correct life style for their needs. 1 ferret generally needs about 5 hours of activity for them to not get depressed. For mine that means an hr here and there throughout the day and a big play time at night before bed time. The amount of play time you need to spend with them depends on If you have only one or multiples, that's why most people have 2 or more.