too much sleep?

Question
Hello!
I have one female ferret who is about 1 year old. I work from 7 am to 5:30 pm M-F so she is home alone quite often. I recently started this job (before I was in school and could play wuth her all day) and was wondering whether it was ok to leave her alone for so long. She has free roam of my room as well as the bathroom.

I know she misses me but is it unhealthy for her to be alone for so long?
I play with her as soon as I come home..but she usually gets sleepy after 2-3 hours of playing.

Is it normal and healthy for a ferret to sleep 20+ hours a day?

I would get another ferret, but I cant afford it quite yet! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Answer
Hello Natalie, thanks for your question. Ferrets usually sleep about 16-18 hours a day normally, but will readily adapt to your schedule. It is just like a dog, though, that she is probably only napping for short periods while you are at work, and then getting up, eating, and amusing herself. It is also normal that she gets tired out after about 2-3 hours of play. Ferrets generally get "nap attacks"  every few hours, and are actually by nature nocturnal animals.
I think a ferret buddy is a great idea for her. Then she will have a friend to help her get into trouble! LOL!
But she will probably not be sleeping as much with a new friend in the house.
It is OK to leave her alone that long (while you are at work) as long as the area she is in is SECURELY ferret proofed. And if she has access to the bathroom, make sure the toilet lid is down, and locked if possible (they sell toilet lid locks for toddlers. If not, the put something heavy and secure on the lid) . Many ferrets have figured out how to get into a toilet, and  it is a very dangerous situation, especially if the ferret is small, they are not able to get back out, and they can easily drown.
Thanks again for your inquiry and please feel free to ask any other questions you may have!
Amy