Is hissing, squeaking and BIting play or fighting? One says play and the other says fighting. Help!!!?

Question

ok ive had my ferret sampson for a couple weeks but known him for a long time.we just got a new ferret bella and both are fixed. We put them together and they played fine for a couple of minutes but then sampson started bitindg bella on the scruff of her neck! i looked up on the internet that it could be play or it could also be fighting. when sampson bit her she started hissing then squeaking. i pulled them apart and in seperate cages. i need answers!

Answer 1

they need to get used to eachother, he could be acting territorial. Just let them get used to eachother over time it will stop just don`t house them together for now.

Answer 2

maybe they don't like each other, or just need to get used to each other. put their cages next to each other to get aqauinted before you put them together again.  the cages next to ech other should give you a clue as to wether they will get along

Answer 3

Unlike people (or JUST like people--depending on how you look at it), animals will fight for Alpha status.  This may be quick or slow depending on seniority and/or who wins.

Animals that are introduced will assert Alpha status, the winner becomes Alpha.  I had an elderly cat and brought home a kitten......the elder cat asserted Alpha over the kitten IMMEDIATELY with a bite to the ear and a tackle, but the kitten kept re-matching until he grew up and eventually they tolerated each other but I don't think either was Alpha.

Introducing slow or fast..either way, they WILL fight it out eventually.  Let them fight it out, but be prepared to break it up.

Answer 4

It sounds like fighting to me. Introduce them slowly. They need time to get to know eachother.

Answer 5

This actually sounds somewhat normal.  When a new ferret is introduced the ones that it is being introduced to may play with it for a short bit and then the dominant one of the group and sometimes all of them will scruff it (biting its scruff) and pin it.  This can get to looking pretty rough and tumble but what it is is the dominant ferret of the group showing that they are the alpha of the group.  Sometimes the other ferrets in a group will do the same showing the new comer where it stands in the pecking order. This can continue to happen for a few minutes to even a couple days at times especially depending on if the dominant ferret feels that it got its' point across or not.

Answer 6

It could be a territory problem.