Fennec foxes are the smallest members of the canine family with their adorable oversized ears and diminutive frames. Their exotic looks make them incredibly popular exotic pets. If you’re considering getting a fennec fox, one of the first questions you probably have is: how much do fennec foxes cost?

The short answer is that fennec foxes typically cost between $1,500 to $3,000. However, there are a lot of factors that go into the final price tag of bringing one of these adorable foxes home.

Upfront Costs of Buying a Fennec Fox

Cost of the Fox Itself

Fennec foxes typically cost $1,500 to $3,000, depending on the breeder. Some of the factors that influence the price include the fox’s age, pedigree, coat color, and health. Generally, younger foxes with an exceptional pedigree from award-winning parents cost more.

Specific coat colors like silver or calico may also drive the price up from standard sandy yellow foxes. Ensuring the fox is healthy with updated vaccines and deworming will warrant a higher cost as well.

Habitat Setup and Supplies

Expect to spend around $1,000 to $2,000 on the initial habitat setup and supplies when bringing a fennec fox home. An outdoor enclosed habitat needs heavy-duty fencing buried into the ground to prevent the fox’s escape. The materials cost for a habitat of adequate size can be high.

Inside their habitat, fennec foxes need burrows/hide boxes, bowls, toys, a wheel, litter boxes, and more. As they are exotic pets, specialized shopping at sites like FennecFoxes4Pets may be necessary for some items.

Vet Bills and Medical Expenses

Fennec fox owners need to budget for extensive veterinary care over the fox’s lifetime. The first year will incur the highest costs as the fox gets spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and has health exams. These procedures typically total $800 to $1,200.

Annual costs for booster shots, wellness exams, heartworm and flea prevention average $400 per year. Emergency medical issues may happen like injuries or illnesses requiring X-rays, surgery, hospitalization, specialists, etc. These incidents can result in bills from $1,000 to $5,000 or more.

Recurring Costs of Fennec Fox Ownership

Food

Fennec foxes are omnivores, meaning they enjoy both plant-based and meat-based foods. A healthy diet for a fennec fox consists mainly of a high-quality commercial dog or cat food, supplemented with fruits, vegetables, eggs, and the occasional treat of cooked unseasoned meat.

Expect to budget around $50-75 per month for high-quality fox kibble and fresh foods.

Enrichment and Toys

These active foxes need lots of mental stimulation and opportunities to express natural behaviors like digging, foraging, and playing. Be prepared to spend on interactive puzzle toys, tunnels, chews, edible hides, a dig box with compost or soil, and rotation of novel items to prevent boredom.

With regular toy replacement, expect this to cost $25-50 monthly.

Grooming

The beautiful thick fur of fennec foxes requires regular grooming to keep their coat clean and matt-free. Budget for high quality brushes and combs, deshedding tools, shampoo made for delicate fox skin, and occasional professional grooming.

With some DIY work, expect average monthly grooming costs around $30.

Health Insurance

Since exotic vets specializing in fennec foxes may be limited depending on your location, health insurance is highly recommended. Policies for exotic companion mammals like fennec foxes average $25-60 per month, with options for per incident caps or unlimited annual coverage.

Compare providers carefully regarding exclusions, payout limits, and approved veterinary networks.

Other Potential Fennec Fox Expenses

Training

While fennec foxes are intelligent animals, some level of training is still required to properly care for them as pets. Professional exotic animal trainers charge an average of $75-150 per hour for in-home sessions.

Most foxes need lifelong periodic training to reinforce behaviors like litterbox use, leash walking, cage cleaning cooperation, and coming when called. Group training classes tailored to exotic pets generally run $200-300 for a 6 week course.

Boarding/Pet Sitting

Since fennec foxes have specialized care and diet requirements, the cost of boarding them is typically higher than boarding a dog or cat. Expect to spend at least $50 per night for professional exotic pet boarding.

Hiring a private pet sitter with experience handling foxes is similarly priced at $50 or more per visit.

Travel and Transport

Transporting fennec foxes requires adherence to permit laws, airline regulations, and careful steps to reduce stress on the animal during travel. When permitted, bringing a fox in the cabin of a flight runs $100-200 each way, along with a transport carrier and any vet checks or documentation needed.

For long car trips, prepare with a travel crate, toys/pads, a litterbox, and ample stopping opportunities for exercise. International pet relocation can cost $2000-4000+ when all quarantines, permits, veterinary fees and transport are included.

Licensing and Legality

Municipal exotic pet permit $50-500 yearly
State permit for native wildlife $100-250 yearly
USDA exhibitor license Varies by facility size
Veterinary exams for state/federal permits $125 per exam

Finally, interstate and international owners should research relevant exotic animal laws. State permit examples include California and New York City. Some states ban fennec foxes as pets entirely. Failing to properly license a fox can lead to confiscation, fines up to $10,000, or criminal charges in more severe cases.

Total Cost Breakdown of Fennec Fox Ownership

Owning a fennec fox can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it also carries a substantial financial commitment. Here is a detailed breakdown of the total costs involved in owning a fennec fox:

Purchase Price

The initial purchase price of a fennec fox from a breeder typically ranges from $1500-$2000. Some breeders may charge upwards of $3000, while others may offer foxes for $1000 or less. Be sure to find an ethical, responsible breeder to ensure you are getting a healthy fox.

Supplies

You will need to purchase a number of essential supplies before bringing your fennec fox home. These include:

  • A spacious enclosure/cage ($200-$800)
  • Bedding and nesting materials ($50-$100)
  • Food bowls, water bottles ($30)
  • Toys and enrichment items ($100+)
  • Litter box and litter ($40)
  • Grooming supplies like brushes, nail clippers ($50)

In total, expect to spend at least $500-1000 on initial supplies, though costs can be higher for large, elaborate enclosures.

Regular Costs

Ongoing costs of fennec fox ownership include:

  • Food: High-quality fox food, eggs, insects, fruit etc ($50-$100/month)
  • Litter: Cat litter or paper litter ($20/month)
  • Toys: Replacing old toys ($20+/month)
  • Grooming: Nail trims, brushing ($40+ every 1-2 months)
  • Vet bills: Checkups, vaccines, medical issues ($200-$800+/year)
  • Electricity: Heating and cooling enclosure ($15-$50/month depending on climate)

You should budget at least $100-$300 per month for ongoing fennec fox care.

One-Time Costs

There may also be some one-time costs that come up, like:

  • Spaying/neutering ($200-$500)
  • Microchipping ($50)
  • Travel carrier ($75-$200)
  • Obedience training ($150+)

Emergency medical bills for conditions like gastrointestinal obstruction or injury can cost upwards of $1000 as well.

Total Costs

Altogether, expect to spend a minimum of $2000-5000 in the first year, and around $1500-3500 per year after that. The high end of ownership costs can easily be $10,000+ for the first year and $5000+ for each additional year.

While not cheap pets, fennec foxes can bring immense joy and fulfillment when properly cared for. Assess your budget and household to be sure you are fully prepared for a fox before making this long-term commitment.

Conclusion

Fennec foxes are undoubtedly adorable, but they require a substantial investment and commitment to properly care for. By understanding all the costs involved with habitat setup, daily care, medical needs and more, you can determine if your budget allows for taking on one of these exotic pets.

While the upfront price of buying a fennec fox is just the beginning, the joy of caring for these energetic and endearing animals can make it worthwhile for the right owner. Being realistic about the expenses required for their specialty care helps ensure you can provide a good home.

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