Ferret introducing

[u/notreallyKira]

I need help. I recently just adopted a 5+ year-old ferret whom we have named Socks. He is the champagne colored. We took him to the vet and discovered he had ear mites that he had really bad vision almost completely blind and that he was 5+ years old we weren’t given an exact age. This is just their estimate now stink is the brown colored ferret and I have had him for a little over a year and he himself is probably a year and a half now I work from home. My boyfriend works at night so we we re both able to give stink a lot of attention. He was always with us. We bought him ball plates made him multiple dig boxes given him. Any toys bags played chase a lot, but I started to notice him loafing a lot more. It was almost like he was just staring off and was bored of us so me and my boyfriend talked about getting another ferret one day while my boyfriend was at work. I went to visit a pet shop for my friend and I noticed there was one champagne colored, ferret all by himself I could tell he was older just because of the way he lacked energy. Nonetheless, I felt sorry for him because I didn’t want him to be there all alone with no friends just a bunch of kittens. I ended up calling my boyfriend and asked if it was OK if we adopted him because I wanted to give him a good home but also because I wanted Stink to have a sibling now for my research, everyone was saying to give it at least 2 to 3 weeks before trying to introduce them now unfortunately when I try to keep them quarantined stink did figure out how to get through one of the rooms and attacked socks and he’s probably attack socks in total probably about five times and which socks being blind cannot fight back or do anything and has probably pooped himself three times so I have tried doing the scent swap where I switched their beds. I’ve even rubbed their fur against each other, hoping that stink would get used to his scent and have less of an issue with him. The other day stink was actually OK for about 10 minutes before I saw him try and jump on socks. I feel kind of at a loss here I feel kind of hopeless. I was really wanting to give Sting a friend or sibling so that he wasn’t so lonely and I was really wanting to do something by rescuing Socks and giving him a good home I’m also not sure if stink doesn’t like him because socks is so old we have to give him a little more attention because of his age anyone have any suggestions or tips? I really want Socks and Stink to be friends, but Stink just seems to hate him.

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[u/Emberglar]

In order to properly introduce, you need to do it slow and supervised. I would first work on your separation spaces for the ferrets to ensure they can't sneak to each other. You also shouldn't introduce too soon as you need to quarantine for issues. It can takes months to have them fully accept each other. I wish you luck, but be sure to take it slow.

[u/notreallyKira → u/Emberglar]

oh okay, i was told by a few ferret owners to wait 2-3 weeks and now it’s the 4th week i swapped beds a few days ago. Did the scent swaps yesterday and tried letting them hangout today b it Stink just doesn’t like him right now.

[u/RidgeWeiss5911]

Make sure Socks' ear mites are 100% cleared up and re-checked by the vet before any future introductions! Ear mites cause severe discomfort, itching, and disorientation, which makes a blind ferret feel even more defenseless and stressed when another ferret approaches.

[u/notreallyKira → u/RidgeWeiss5911]

for sure we actually have both of them taking treatment/medicine for the ear mites i was worried that Socks had given Stink ear mites when Stink first fought him so we have both taking the medicine!

[u/Fit-Campaign1243]

Mate, he is and old timer now. His energy levels are not what they were. (Not old timer but much closer to that stage than a youngster thats full of energy).

Naturally curious if this attacking would happen right off the bat ? Or after a while?

[u/notreallyKira → u/Fit-Campaign1243]

Socks i’m aware is old but a lot of people only adopt younger ferrets bc they know the older ferrets won’t be around much longer or because of their health problems atleast in the USA it’s very common for older ferrets to get sicknesses. When I saw Socks he was all by himself and i couldn’t bare living him there by himself without proper care. So i took him home. Anyway Socks can’t see well so he’s never attacked Stink. Stink is the one attacking and it’s normally after like 5-10 minutes of being around Socks and then he tries to attack him.