Shes so nippy

Question

Delilah   My boyfriend got me the cutest little fuzzy named Delilah. She's about 9months old and so full of spunk. My only problem is she is far to nippy for my liking and I don't want to be playing with her if shes just going to bite.
I scruff her every time and give her a small but firm shake and say no but she just goes right back to biting. So, I repeat the process. Sometimes I have to do it 3 or 4 times before she backs off but then she arches her back and scurries away backwards making noises at me. Some people say she's trying to play but I think she's mad at me because if I go near her again she'll jump at me and try nipping again so I have to scruff her again.
I'm really worried i'll be scruffing her too many times and she will feel abused and not liked and not like me in return. What should I do? Am i doing everything right, or?

Answer
Some ferrets only get more worked-up with a scruff and a time out, I usually prefer to re-direct the behavior.  So, if she bites at you, give her a toy and walk away.  Also, find out if she is biting for attention, to be put down, to be allowed to run around when she is let out of her cage, because she is young and hasn't learned not to bite yet, or because she has a lot of energy and not enough play time or time out of her cage?  Answering this question can help you figure out what she is trying to tell you by biting.