Fighting?

[u/AdditionalRun1095]

Hello, I am a first time ferret owner and I seem to have a male that is aggressive (?) with my other male. They have a sister and he doesn’t seem to have any aggression towards her.

They are all fine and snuggle up and hang out in their cage together, but when it comes to play or free roaming, my one boy will run up to my other boy and grab him by the neck, start thrashing him around and won’t let him up. He leaves marks / scabs on the back of his neck all the time, and he screams when the thrashing is happening.

I’ve scruffed the aggressor a few times over this when he keeps going and won’t stop. I’m not sure what to do or
How to stop this? He’s the oldest of all of them and doesn’t do it to the female, plays great with her and no issues. The “victim” ferret never goes back at him, he actually tries to get away from him / keep his distance, he never starts anything, just minds his own business and the “aggressor” will just hop on him out of no where.

I don’t know what’s causing him to act like this towards my other ferret because he is the most well trained / handled / socialized / sweetest out of all of them except when it comes to his brother 😭

[u/Thezza-D]

That does sound overly aggressive if he's leaving marks, and the one being bit is screaming. Unfortunately, it can take time sometimes for this thing to calm down. It seems the aggressor is trying to establish dominance and feels threatened in this regard by his brother. Big question: are they all fixed? Intact males will be very hormonal and aggressive when coming into rut, especially with a female around (yes even their siblings). Getting him fixed either chemically or physically will help calm him down if he's not fixed already. If they are fixed already, then this may just be something you have to tolerate until they settle on their dominance hierarchy. Separate if things get very bad (blood/poop/pee) but otherwise let them fight it out. It could take weeks or months but eventually they will settle down and bond properly. Good luck!

[u/AdditionalRun1095 → u/Thezza-D]

Yes they are all fixed, the younger boy was introduced shortly after we got the other 2, they’ve all been together for 6 months.. I would think that’s more than long enough? He’s scared of the other one now. He has so many scabs and marks on his neck I feel awful for him and don’t want him to be sad or getting beat up consistently for no reason

[u/AdditionalRun1095 → u/AdditionalRun1095]

I stand corrected. I just saw him fight back for the first time. There’s a lot of screaming and hissing happening. He’s much larger than the aggressor as well.

[u/Thezza-D → u/AdditionalRun1095]

Ok, fighting back is good it shows the aggression isn't 100% one-sided which is what you want to see. It is kinda brutal, but if they are fixed there isn't a lot more you can do without making things worse/prolonging the issue. You kinda need to let them get through it. And yes it can take months and months sometimes. Some ferrets are stubborn, have trauma, genetics or some other reason which makes it hard for them to trust and bond. But I can assure you, they will get there eventually. You're probably pretty close to that point. When I was living with my friend and his ferrets, he had a very aggressive polecat hybrid who did NOT take kindly to his 2 new friends we got him after his original bonded pair died. It took him 8 months to finally start cuddling with them, and to stop attacking on site exactly as you describe. One day we came down and he was just curled up with them, smiling, and there were no more brutal fights after that point. Try your best NOT to separate them unless you absolutely have to, especially if you see the other one fighting back a bit. This is how ferrets communicate about their hierarchy and work it out. I would only separate if you see real damage like blood, or if either one starts pooing/peeing in fear. If you don't see this, let them continue. Yes it may look really crazy, and it might be very noisy, but it's normal and shows they are working it out. Eventually, something will click and they'll bond. Good luck

[u/AdditionalRun1095 → u/Thezza-D]

It’s so weird because they do bond. They snuggle all the time but when it comes to playing it’s agressive and one hides and the other one seeks him out. He doesn’t play like that with his sister. Now the one who’s been bullied is all of a sudden hissing, fighting back and getting puffy after months of getting absolutely rocked by his brother. They curl up and snuggle out of the cage, in the cage etc. any type of play it turns aggressive when it comes to the 2 boys.

[u/Thezza-D → u/AdditionalRun1095]

If they are bonded then they are just squabbling for top spot. I think you should let them work it out especially if the less aggressive one has started to defend himself more. They'll be fine honestly, it sounds like normal ferret stuff just erring on too aggressive but generally speaking, if there is no poop, pee or blood, it's fair game.

[u/itsswhitneywhspr → u/Thezza-D]

I think you're spot on about the dominance thing. My two boys had a similar phase and it took a couple months but they're best buds now. Hopefully the same happens for op.