sibling rivalry

Question
my roommate got a couple of ferrets about a year ago and they are absolute joys. i decided to get one of my own. she's a beautiful all white with black eyes.    recently she's started throwing up. i called the vet and i couldnt even talk to him, but his secretary told me it sounded like stress. she said that the other two are probably ganging up on her. she suggested that i try keeping them seperated. she got better for a little while, but she's gotten depressed now. she is only about 5 months old and doesnt like being kept alone. i play with her a lot but she needs other ferrets to be really happy. what can i do to get them to all get along together?

Answer
Hello Briana,
I would strongly suggest that you take the ferret into the vet. It is not usually a symptom of "stress" for a ferret to throw up. It could be masking a serious problem. And any vet tech should know that you NEVER diagnose an animal over the phone. Please take your new fuzzy in for a check up to make sure she is OK. You also have to be very careful of your friends ferrets, who could catch something from yours. Best to get a clean bill of health before introducing them.

   That being said, it really depends on your friends ferrets accepting your ferret. It may never happen, or it may take a long while. Do Not house them in the same cage. Your ferret should have her own cage, and bedding etc. If she is in with a hostile pair, that are ganging up on her, there could be a terrible fight.OR it could very well be the reason that the other two are picking on her, is if she invades "their" space (ie: their cage)
She needs her own cage if she doesn't already hve one.
You need to let them play, supervised in a play area. If they get into a couple of tufts, that's OK, as long as the two are not ganging up on one.It is alot like kids on a play ground. their will be some scuffles. If they do that, separate them, and correct the behavior with a firm "NO FIGHT!" And then put them back in the play area, distract them with a fun activity, like a big box, or a paper bag etc. And keep doing this every day.It may very well they become fast friends. OR  They may never get along, just like some cats cannot live with other cats, it may be that you have to keep them separately housed (which I would never put them in the same cage).. But it doesn't mean that you still can't have play times together. They should be taught to tolerate each other with no fights.
Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions.
amy