If you are looking to have a show-stopping, wild pet, you have come to the right place to start your research. It is undeniable that foxes catch a lot of human attention due to their distinct behavior. If you are also contemplating owning a fox as your pet, this article contains all you need to know including the cost of buying and maintaining domesticated foxes.
Why Fox Pets?
Foxes are a mystery that humans never seem to be able to unravel. Although belonging to the Canidae family, foxes behave more like cats – elusive, anti-social, and rather mischievously wild. What intrigues the human desire to get closer to foxes is that they are mostly harmless and yet humans can’t approach them in the wilderness. However, even though foxes can look harmless from a distance, it still stands that they are wild animals and might attack if approached carelessly. Hence, the solution is domesticated foxes. But it is only fair to warn you that you can’t entirely tame foxes. Even after getting them as pets, they might still behave wildly or erratically.
Things to Understand About Foxes
Foxes are high-maintenance pets and require much more attention and energy than any other pet. But if you wish to own a fox and any other animal wouldn’t do, then here are some things that you should understand about foxes before deciding to buy one:
The first and foremost thing you need to check for is if foxes are legal to have as pets in your area. Some states don’t allow foxes to be domesticated. If you want a fox, ensure a big open space is available for it to roam about freely. However, an open public space might be a bad idea since foxes are very mischievous and energetic and might wreak havoc on the passers-by. You cannot control a fox in an open space. They need the freedom to go around without restrictions. After the foxes reach maturity, you can’t force them to stay indoors. If kept indoors, they might end up being aggressive and harmful. Make sure you have enough time on your hand to play with the fox or have it attending to paly-toys. If the fox isn’t distracted or given enough attention, it might show destructive or aggressive behavior. Make sure to feed your fox lots of protein (meat). They might also like other foods which you can experiment with.
Types of domesticated Fox and Cost
Arctic Foxes – Since Arctic foxes naturally live in extremely cold climates, they require more care if kept as pets. They might not survive hotter climates and might not be recommended to be owned in regions with hotter weather. These foxes are the least common type to be owned domestically. They cost around $575 – $675Fennec Foxes – Fennec foxes are the most common type to be owned domestically. They are desert foxes and hence have a tolerance for both hot and cold weather conditions. Due to their popularity, they cost way higher than any other fox type. They cost around $3000. Red Fox – Red foxes are convenient foxes that take to any environment quite easily. They are also popular among fox pets. You can buy a red fox for a price ranging from $425 – $700.
The aforementioned costs are only the price tag to acquire a domesticated fox. However, the costs go up depending on the types of diets you feed your fox, the investment in creating a free environment for your fox, and so on. You might even be looking at approximately $2000 worth of annual maintenance expenses.
Conclusion
If you are looking to get yourself a distinct human companion, – somewhere along the lines of a wild animal domesticated – foxes are sure to be one of the names on your list. They’re elegant creatures, to say the least. And with their mostly unharming demeanor, they can be a more suitable choice if you are thinking of domesticating a wild animal. However, foxes are rather unpredictable pets. They tend to showcase erratic behavior. Hence, keeping them would prove to be a high-maintenance job. So, consider your options and responsibilities carefully before buying a fox.
Q. How long do foxes live?
A. Even though foxes have a very short life span in the wilderness (about 3 – 4 years), their life span is elongated considerably when kept as pets. A domesticated fox can live up to 14 years of age.
