Biting, biting & more biting

Question
My neutered male ferret, Bert, bites a lot!  He's clever, very dominant & jealous to boot!  I've tried scruffing, hissing, bitter apple to no avail (it's worked on other ferrets).  He can tell when I have it on and either finds a spot I missed - then lick, lick, chomp, or he waits until I think we've succeeded, stop using the bitter apple and then he starts again.  He is somewhat hard of hearing, but not deaf, so I try not to startle him - that takes care of him biting for that reason.  He seems quite attached to me, wants to be near me, seems jealous of my attention to anyone else (his brother, Ernie, family or even the vet) but still seems to want to bite and hang on.  He will do the same thing to anyone else, too, although not as nicely.  I persevere and don't put him down or let him get away with anything, but we still have the problem.  He seems in excellent health and the vet agrees?  Help - I love him, but what a pain!!

Answer
Often a biting ferret is trying to communicate something.  He isn't telling you he is in pain if the vet says he is Ok, he hasn't learned that biting gets him put down so we need to figure out what he is trying to tell you.  I had a ferret who used to bite to be picked up!  The other reason a ferret bites is because he gets something out of it.  Maybe a reaction?  Maybe extra attention?  It sounds like you are doing all the right things.  I would add to make sure you only pet him gently, no rough housing, stay away from petting his face and hand feed him.