Health & Maintenance
Exercise
Fennec foxes are very hyper. They can run at high speeds and can jump up to four times their body length! Since they are so hyper, they need to be able to exercise enough daily. They should have free roam of the house or a large (preferably outdoor) enclosure that they can play in. They should have access to a large ferret cage where they can go to feel safe while you are away. They CAN be leash trained but it has been said that they are much like a cat in a way where they do not like to follow on a leash. It is also recommended that you bring a carrier with you if you take them outside because if they get startled they will likely run and hide in the closest safe spot. When a fennec gets outside they are VERY difficult, if not impossible to catch. If you choose to have an outdoor enclosure, make sure the fence goes a few feet deep into the ground because they will most likely try and dig their way out and escape.
Grooming
Fennec foxes have long, thick fur and due to the fact that they are from the desert they have furry paws to protect them from the hot sand. They generally do not smell but if they become scared they may let off a slight musky odour from a gland in the tip of their tail. They groom themselves like cats and even mutual groom. So like cats bathing really isn't needed unless they get really dirty or you want to bathe them once in a while. If you do choose to bathe them, make sure to use kitten shampoo since it is safest for their skin.
Diet/Nutrition
In the wild the fennec fox's diet consists of birds, small rodents, eggs they steal from nests, lizards, insects and plants. Plants are a very important part of their diet in the wild. Since it is so hot and water is scarce in the desert they use the moisture from plants instead when water isn't available.
When kept as pets it is important to keep their diets as close to their wild diet as possible. They need a diet high in protein even more than a cat does, and it is important not to feed them an omnivore diet since they cannot digest that much fibre. Fruits and vegetables are still important but in small amounts so they do not get diarrhea. They also need taurine, and if they don't have enough in their diet they can be fed taurine pills along with their regular food. They should be fed a high quality dog food, (ex. Mazuri Wild Canid Diet or Blue Buffalo) along with eggs, cooked or raw chicken, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. If frozen they must be thawed. Their diet should be about 90% meat and 10% plants. Mealworms are a good choice to add into their diet. The nutritional content of mealworms is as follows:
63.8% Crude protein
7.4% Ash
10.6% Fat
18.2% Carbohydrates
0.34% Calcium
0.8% Phosphorus
Feeding
Fennec foxes are not picky eaters. They eat when they are given the opportunity and will probably eat mostly anything you give to them. They shouldn't be fed things like table scraps, even though it most likely won't hurt them. In the wild fennec foxes forage on plants and they have been adapted to go long periods of time without a direct source of water. They should eat bugs and eggs everyday. Another good choice for them is mice. They like cherries, but only about a few teaspoons of fruits and vegetables is necessary everyday. For treats you can also feed them figs, dates, and dog treats.
*Certain foods are toxic and cannot be fed to fennec foxes; grapes, raisins, pork and chocolate.*
Exercise
Fennec foxes are very hyper. They can run at high speeds and can jump up to four times their body length! Since they are so hyper, they need to be able to exercise enough daily. They should have free roam of the house or a large (preferably outdoor) enclosure that they can play in. They should have access to a large ferret cage where they can go to feel safe while you are away. They CAN be leash trained but it has been said that they are much like a cat in a way where they do not like to follow on a leash. It is also recommended that you bring a carrier with you if you take them outside because if they get startled they will likely run and hide in the closest safe spot. When a fennec gets outside they are VERY difficult, if not impossible to catch. If you choose to have an outdoor enclosure, make sure the fence goes a few feet deep into the ground because they will most likely try and dig their way out and escape.
Grooming
Fennec foxes have long, thick fur and due to the fact that they are from the desert they have furry paws to protect them from the hot sand. They generally do not smell but if they become scared they may let off a slight musky odour from a gland in the tip of their tail. They groom themselves like cats and even mutual groom. So like cats bathing really isn't needed unless they get really dirty or you want to bathe them once in a while. If you do choose to bathe them, make sure to use kitten shampoo since it is safest for their skin.
Diet/Nutrition
In the wild the fennec fox's diet consists of birds, small rodents, eggs they steal from nests, lizards, insects and plants. Plants are a very important part of their diet in the wild. Since it is so hot and water is scarce in the desert they use the moisture from plants instead when water isn't available.
When kept as pets it is important to keep their diets as close to their wild diet as possible. They need a diet high in protein even more than a cat does, and it is important not to feed them an omnivore diet since they cannot digest that much fibre. Fruits and vegetables are still important but in small amounts so they do not get diarrhea. They also need taurine, and if they don't have enough in their diet they can be fed taurine pills along with their regular food. They should be fed a high quality dog food, (ex. Mazuri Wild Canid Diet or Blue Buffalo) along with eggs, cooked or raw chicken, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. If frozen they must be thawed. Their diet should be about 90% meat and 10% plants. Mealworms are a good choice to add into their diet. The nutritional content of mealworms is as follows:
63.8% Crude protein
7.4% Ash
10.6% Fat
18.2% Carbohydrates
0.34% Calcium
0.8% Phosphorus
Feeding
Fennec foxes are not picky eaters. They eat when they are given the opportunity and will probably eat mostly anything you give to them. They shouldn't be fed things like table scraps, even though it most likely won't hurt them. In the wild fennec foxes forage on plants and they have been adapted to go long periods of time without a direct source of water. They should eat bugs and eggs everyday. Another good choice for them is mice. They like cherries, but only about a few teaspoons of fruits and vegetables is necessary everyday. For treats you can also feed them figs, dates, and dog treats.
*Certain foods are toxic and cannot be fed to fennec foxes; grapes, raisins, pork and chocolate.*