Other Fox Species as Pets
Swift Fox Vulpes velox and Kit Fox Vulpes macrotis
Some scientists consider the swift and kit foxes to be simply subspecies of one another instead of their own unique species. They are North America's smallest wild dogs. These little desert foxes are about the size of an average house cat and usually weigh between 4-7 pounds. Swift and kit foxes are very similar in appearance, usually gray or yellowish-gray on top, fading into a
yellowish-buff or white underneath. They have a black tipped-tail and lack the black tail stripe of the gray fox. The ratio of grays, yellows, and tans in their coat can vary slightly depending on where the fox's wild ancestors originated. Kit foxes are usually slimmer than swifts with proportionately longer legs, muzzle, and tail, and larger ears. In the wild the swift fox prefers the grassy prarie while the kit fox usually sticks to the sandy and rocky desert. Their enclosure should mimic their natural habitat as much as safely possible. Being desert foxes, they are susceptible to cold temperatures. Their care is reported to be similar to that of a fennec fox. However, I have not heard of them needing taurine supplements and they usually are not as noisy and hyper as fennecs.
Some scientists consider the swift and kit foxes to be simply subspecies of one another instead of their own unique species. They are North America's smallest wild dogs. These little desert foxes are about the size of an average house cat and usually weigh between 4-7 pounds. Swift and kit foxes are very similar in appearance, usually gray or yellowish-gray on top, fading into a
yellowish-buff or white underneath. They have a black tipped-tail and lack the black tail stripe of the gray fox. The ratio of grays, yellows, and tans in their coat can vary slightly depending on where the fox's wild ancestors originated. Kit foxes are usually slimmer than swifts with proportionately longer legs, muzzle, and tail, and larger ears. In the wild the swift fox prefers the grassy prarie while the kit fox usually sticks to the sandy and rocky desert. Their enclosure should mimic their natural habitat as much as safely possible. Being desert foxes, they are susceptible to cold temperatures. Their care is reported to be similar to that of a fennec fox. However, I have not heard of them needing taurine supplements and they usually are not as noisy and hyper as fennecs.
Bat-Eared Fox
Otocyon megalotis
a.k.a Delalande's fox, black-eared fox, big-eared fox, and sometimes incorrectly called a cape fox, which is a different species
Another desert fox species from Africa, the bat-eared fox usually weighs around 4 1/2-12 pounds and is about the size of a small dog. Its ears can grow up to 5 1/2". Their coloring is usually an ashy gray or brown with a pale neck, face, and belly, and black legs, ears, face mask, and tail. Like the gray fox, the unique bat-ear is not considered a "true" fox. It is primarily an insectivore, eating barely any mammalian prey. Their giant ears actually hear insect larva underground. They usually feed on termites, beetles, and larva. In captivity, you can still feed a high quality dog food or wild canid food but unlike other foxes, this little insectivore has soft teeth. His food will need to be moistened to soften it, or feed good quality canned food. Clean the bowls frequently to prevent mold from growing. A good part of their diet should also be made of insects like mealworms, beetles, captive-bred roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, and also eggs, fruits, and veggies. They dig burrows in the wild so their enclosure should be similar to the red fox. However, like the gray fox, they like to hunt for insects. Provide some old drift wood or logs for your bat-eared fox to pick at for both entertainment and extra nourishment from the bugs inside. Keep in mind though, that this fox comes from Africa, where the same organisms don't grow as do here. To be safe, avoid cedar which is toxic to many animals, also watch out for fungus and mold on the wood in their enclosure. Bat-ears come from a dry place and it is unknown how their bodies may react to exposure or consumption of these potentially dangerous items. Like the fennec, this little desert fox needs to be kept warm. In the wild they enjoy logs and patches of thick vegetation scattered amongst the dirt and sand. For further information on bat-eared fox care I found the following website extremely helpful: cheetah.co.za.
Otocyon megalotis
a.k.a Delalande's fox, black-eared fox, big-eared fox, and sometimes incorrectly called a cape fox, which is a different species
Another desert fox species from Africa, the bat-eared fox usually weighs around 4 1/2-12 pounds and is about the size of a small dog. Its ears can grow up to 5 1/2". Their coloring is usually an ashy gray or brown with a pale neck, face, and belly, and black legs, ears, face mask, and tail. Like the gray fox, the unique bat-ear is not considered a "true" fox. It is primarily an insectivore, eating barely any mammalian prey. Their giant ears actually hear insect larva underground. They usually feed on termites, beetles, and larva. In captivity, you can still feed a high quality dog food or wild canid food but unlike other foxes, this little insectivore has soft teeth. His food will need to be moistened to soften it, or feed good quality canned food. Clean the bowls frequently to prevent mold from growing. A good part of their diet should also be made of insects like mealworms, beetles, captive-bred roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, and also eggs, fruits, and veggies. They dig burrows in the wild so their enclosure should be similar to the red fox. However, like the gray fox, they like to hunt for insects. Provide some old drift wood or logs for your bat-eared fox to pick at for both entertainment and extra nourishment from the bugs inside. Keep in mind though, that this fox comes from Africa, where the same organisms don't grow as do here. To be safe, avoid cedar which is toxic to many animals, also watch out for fungus and mold on the wood in their enclosure. Bat-ears come from a dry place and it is unknown how their bodies may react to exposure or consumption of these potentially dangerous items. Like the fennec, this little desert fox needs to be kept warm. In the wild they enjoy logs and patches of thick vegetation scattered amongst the dirt and sand. For further information on bat-eared fox care I found the following website extremely helpful: cheetah.co.za.
Red-Arctic Hybrid
Vulpes vulpes x Vulpes lagopus
a.k.a. ranch fox (pure-bred red foxes with coat colors not found in the wild are also sometimes called ranch foxes)
This is a fox that will likely never be seen in the wild. Usually if a red fox comes across an arctic fox in the wild, he will chase it away or kill it. But in captivity they have been bred in fur farms to produce a more desireable fur coat. They ocassionally find their way into the pet trade. I've found little reliable and frequently conflicting information about this fox. Some claim all offspring are born sterile. Others claim only one gender or the other is born sterile, while others claim only the offspring of a red-arctic cross bred to a red-arctic cross is sterile. So it is hard to determine the genetics of some individuals without doing genetic testing. When I tracked down the original breeder of my shadow-colored red fox Misty (who sadly has proven to be a less-than-reliable source) she told me Misty is an arctic-red hybrid. However, Misty shows very little evidence of arctic fox traits. The only indication that she might contain any arctic fox is a very slightly darker coat in the summer, which may be no more than her undercoat showing through more due to the thinner primary coat. Also, she is sterile which is how she ended up at my sanctuary after being shuffled from home to home as a failed breeder. But sterility can also happen with a non-hybrid fox. If you look closely at the arctic-red hybrid in this photo you can see characteristics of an arctic fox- smaller ears and stockier body than a red fox, as well as a more dense coat. It also has larger ears than a typical arctic fox and clearly the diluted coloration of a cross-colored red fox. So, for now this hybrid fox species
remains somewhat of a mystery. Presumably its care would be somewhere between that of a red fox and arctic fox, which have very similar care requirements anyway. The main difference is that due to the thicker, denser coat, this hybrid fox is likely susceptible to
overheating from high temperatures.
Vulpes vulpes x Vulpes lagopus
a.k.a. ranch fox (pure-bred red foxes with coat colors not found in the wild are also sometimes called ranch foxes)
This is a fox that will likely never be seen in the wild. Usually if a red fox comes across an arctic fox in the wild, he will chase it away or kill it. But in captivity they have been bred in fur farms to produce a more desireable fur coat. They ocassionally find their way into the pet trade. I've found little reliable and frequently conflicting information about this fox. Some claim all offspring are born sterile. Others claim only one gender or the other is born sterile, while others claim only the offspring of a red-arctic cross bred to a red-arctic cross is sterile. So it is hard to determine the genetics of some individuals without doing genetic testing. When I tracked down the original breeder of my shadow-colored red fox Misty (who sadly has proven to be a less-than-reliable source) she told me Misty is an arctic-red hybrid. However, Misty shows very little evidence of arctic fox traits. The only indication that she might contain any arctic fox is a very slightly darker coat in the summer, which may be no more than her undercoat showing through more due to the thinner primary coat. Also, she is sterile which is how she ended up at my sanctuary after being shuffled from home to home as a failed breeder. But sterility can also happen with a non-hybrid fox. If you look closely at the arctic-red hybrid in this photo you can see characteristics of an arctic fox- smaller ears and stockier body than a red fox, as well as a more dense coat. It also has larger ears than a typical arctic fox and clearly the diluted coloration of a cross-colored red fox. So, for now this hybrid fox species
remains somewhat of a mystery. Presumably its care would be somewhere between that of a red fox and arctic fox, which have very similar care requirements anyway. The main difference is that due to the thicker, denser coat, this hybrid fox is likely susceptible to
overheating from high temperatures.
Russian Tame Fox
Vulpes vulpes
a.k.a. domestic or tame silver, ranch, or red fox, Belyaev fox, and fox-puppy or dog-fox
This is a fascinating fox. It is technically a red fox and requires essentially the same care. What makes this little guy unique is this is a truly domesticated fox! The tame fox is the result of a 50+ year Russian experiment started by geneticist Dmitry K. Belyaev to create friendly foxes from Siberian fur farm silver fox breeding stock. The results have been remarkable and led to foxes every bit as tame, affectionate, and eager to be with people as the family dog. An unexpected side effect was that physical appearance is tied into the tameness gene. As they selectively bred for tameness the physical traits of these foxes also changed. Tame foxes come in a wide variety of body shapes and proportions as well as a rainbow of colors and patterns. Many tame foxes look similar to dogs. They are often lower to the ground with shorter legs. Some have floppy ears or a shorter tail. Some even have tails that curl over their back like a husky. They wag their tails, bark, and lick their human's face and hands. While any properly raised, well-socialized and trained fox can show affection towards humans, these special foxes are born with the instinct to love and please people. In my opinion this raises an interesting point to consider. One of the things I love about having foxes as pets is earning their trust. Virtually any dog or dog-fox will love people because that's what they are bred to do. Having a non-domesticated animal trust you and want you to be part of its life, to me, is a very special feeling. I also love the depth in a fox's eyes. They are wise, intelligent, and fascinating creatures which can teach us a lot about their wild species which, in many cases, is sadly vanishing from our earth. Turning a fox into a dog does not offer the same experience. However, if you enjoy the idea of a pet fox but want more of a sure thing that you will have a cuddle-buddy with your new pet, this could definitely be the option for you. Also, by choosing a tame fox you are helping to save an incredible experiment that is currently suffering due to lack of funding. To learn more, visit the American Scientist Website. These foxes are considered Russia's intellectual property and breeding them is illegal. They are spayed or neutered before being shipped. Virtually all U.S. purchases of Russian tame foxes go through one company, SibFox, or you can reach the Russian institute directly here. The overall cost of one of these foxes to the U.S. averages around $3,000-$4,000. Beware of scammers claiming they are selling you a Russian tame fox. There is sometimes no difference in appearance between a captive raised red fox and a Russian tame fox. The difference is in behavior. Any tame fox in America legally should have importation and likely quarantine papers from when they were shipped to the U.S. If the seller can not show you these papers you are probably not getting a real Russian domesticated fox.
Vulpes vulpes
a.k.a. domestic or tame silver, ranch, or red fox, Belyaev fox, and fox-puppy or dog-fox
This is a fascinating fox. It is technically a red fox and requires essentially the same care. What makes this little guy unique is this is a truly domesticated fox! The tame fox is the result of a 50+ year Russian experiment started by geneticist Dmitry K. Belyaev to create friendly foxes from Siberian fur farm silver fox breeding stock. The results have been remarkable and led to foxes every bit as tame, affectionate, and eager to be with people as the family dog. An unexpected side effect was that physical appearance is tied into the tameness gene. As they selectively bred for tameness the physical traits of these foxes also changed. Tame foxes come in a wide variety of body shapes and proportions as well as a rainbow of colors and patterns. Many tame foxes look similar to dogs. They are often lower to the ground with shorter legs. Some have floppy ears or a shorter tail. Some even have tails that curl over their back like a husky. They wag their tails, bark, and lick their human's face and hands. While any properly raised, well-socialized and trained fox can show affection towards humans, these special foxes are born with the instinct to love and please people. In my opinion this raises an interesting point to consider. One of the things I love about having foxes as pets is earning their trust. Virtually any dog or dog-fox will love people because that's what they are bred to do. Having a non-domesticated animal trust you and want you to be part of its life, to me, is a very special feeling. I also love the depth in a fox's eyes. They are wise, intelligent, and fascinating creatures which can teach us a lot about their wild species which, in many cases, is sadly vanishing from our earth. Turning a fox into a dog does not offer the same experience. However, if you enjoy the idea of a pet fox but want more of a sure thing that you will have a cuddle-buddy with your new pet, this could definitely be the option for you. Also, by choosing a tame fox you are helping to save an incredible experiment that is currently suffering due to lack of funding. To learn more, visit the American Scientist Website. These foxes are considered Russia's intellectual property and breeding them is illegal. They are spayed or neutered before being shipped. Virtually all U.S. purchases of Russian tame foxes go through one company, SibFox, or you can reach the Russian institute directly here. The overall cost of one of these foxes to the U.S. averages around $3,000-$4,000. Beware of scammers claiming they are selling you a Russian tame fox. There is sometimes no difference in appearance between a captive raised red fox and a Russian tame fox. The difference is in behavior. Any tame fox in America legally should have importation and likely quarantine papers from when they were shipped to the U.S. If the seller can not show you these papers you are probably not getting a real Russian domesticated fox.
* I am not a vet. This information is based upon my experiences with these animals, as well as information shared with me from other knowledgeable individuals. You may print this for your own personal use, but do not sell, redistribute, or remove copyright information. © Layla Reid, Mystic Gardens Fox Sanctuary, 2013