Ferret behavior question

Question
I'm a first time ferret owner and I've had my 12 week old neutered Marshal male for about 3-4 weeks.  I picked him because he was the mellowest and least nippy of the bunch, however, now I wonder if he's too mellow.  I took him to the vet a few days ago and he was given a clean bill of health.  He rarely dooks and isn't interested in playing with me though he loves to explore.  He does flat ferret several times an hour but never for more than 10 seconds.  I've read that ferrets are crazy bundles of energy as kits but he's just never been that way.  I'm starting to wonder if he's unhappy with me though I'm trying really hard to give him a good life.  He gets to come out about 4 hours each day (usually in 1-2 hour intervals) but he usually will play for the first 30 minutes and then curl up somewhere to sleep.  He's also started rubbing his face on the ground frequently. I'm considering buying him a playmate but I'm worried that then I'll just have two depressed ferrets or they'll just ignore each other although you may know better than me whether this is true.  If I could sum up the problem in just a few words I'd say he seems depressed.  Am I just being an overprotective mom or is there something potentially wrong?

Answer
Hi Stephanie and thanks for being a conscientious ferret person.

I hear about this from time to time and no, it's not normal, but it's not unheard of, either. I would have a very ferret-savvy veterinarian run a complete blood panel on this ferret in order to rule the usual array of issues out if his behavior doesn't change within a few weeks and/or in the company of another ferret or two.

Lethargy like this is symptomatic of insulinoma but he's way too young for that. It could be juvenile lymphoma....it could be a number of things. I've had a couple of ferrets over the years (including one I have now) whom I would describe as being serious & earnest, and weren't interested in playing or jumping. Your ferret might be one of these, or he might be lonely for a playmate. I would definitely consider getting him one (bring him to your nearest ferret shelter or municipal shelter that has ferrets available.....please avoid getting a ferret at a pet store if at all possible) as ferrets are extremely social, as you've discovered. BTW frequent rubbing of his face on the ground is normal ferret behavior.

Pick him up, scratch his chin, kiss him, and cuddle him frequently and keep letting him know his human loves him. My Lucky, one of the ferrets I mentioned above, enjoys that a lot and it keeps her happy in her own way even though she is not interested in doing the ferret dance or in rolling around or playing in any typical way.

I would also suggest that you look through the archives at the Ferret Health List as other people have posted similar queries there over the years. The FHL is at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/  You may want to post there as well; the FHL is monitored by vets and vet techs as well as people with decades of experience with advanced ferret health and behavioral issues.

Good luck and keep me posted,
DG