Fennec Fox Facts: Pros & Cons

[@MKW369]

Thank you for taking the time to shed some light on your adorable fennec. It takes a special person to manage a creature like this!

[@TamanduaGirl]

I'm glad you found it worthwhile.

[@thecoolcario9048]

I agree

[@mynameisworldxx]

My 10 year old friend manages a fennec fox, artic fox, red fox, leamur, 2 snakes, a opossum and a dog (as far as i know)

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

and please people. don't lock them up in SMAll cages~!

[@julietf3360]

Tamandua Girl do you know Djinn the fennec?

[@samanthaberger4050]

So he eats roaches? I'm so glad I'm doing research on this!! lol I'm scared of roaches.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes he loves them and they are a good portion of his diet. I have a tank of them breeding and freeze them then then thaw some out each night for him.

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

A fox is a scavenger and so is a skunk.

[@jimhardeea]

@@TamanduaGirl And they haven't infested your house?

[@gamerscar3017]

They also eat berries!

[@GenderlessFurry_They-Them]

Got roaches? Fennec Foxes are the best exterminators.

[@michaelsoftbindows1336]

I'm thinking about owning a Fennec fox and ikigai seems to be a very playful and cute fox, thank you for making this video.

[@TamanduaGirl]

He's a really happy guy

[@mysticechos5006]

Me: *hearing that the fact they eat roaches* Me:... welp that’s I need to know

[@megnemo6403]

a cat will not always snuggle up to you whenever you want. they snuggle up with you when they want to😊.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Depends on the cat but most cats I've had will be happy to be picked up and stay for some petting at least most of the time.

[@peachdoesart7175]

Just like 99% of my relationships

[@rhys896]

@@vids595 Cats are basically like mini lions. Most lions kept in captivity are decently tame, but they could still attack for no reason. Cats can't cause harm though, so they are alright. Obviously cats are a little more domesticated but if you do think about it they are just like slightly more domesticated mini lions.

[@magentathelion-husky8816]

It depends on the breed too. Some could be bred to be docile or like water. But there are cat breeds that are great around children and very tolerant.

[@Alonepistachio]

Which is why I’m a dog person. They are always up for a cuddle ❤️ (I like cats too but if I had to choose only one pet it’s gonna be a dog)

[@tyrone42ful]

Hes cute but it's like having a gremlin as a pet after you feed him after midnight .I'll visit him at the vet thank you very much

[@ashwadhwani]

Play at 1.5x speed so you dont have to hit dislike ;)

[@edddddddddddd]

ashwadhwani best advice

[@sean_mcgahee]

ashwadhwani : best advice EVER

[@peachdoesart7175]

Absolutely wonderful tip

[@jbd222]

Are you trying to say that they're kinda fennicky?

[@imprisoned.marionette]

Jim Dunn *Ba dum tss*

[@ayomayn8723]

Why she super nervous it’s only a KZbin blog relax girl 😂

[@nicholas8nj]

Doesn't matter bro listen to what she has to say. KZbin or not can be a challenge even around other people!!!!!!!!!

[@damienbunting873]

I love her videos!

[@lucaszhu1028]

She's a pet owner.

[@peachdoesart7175]

She forgot to list a negative, they like to threaten you with a gun while recording you.

[@Ashley_Corliss]

I dont think shes nervous, some people just have different personality types.

[@mandytara7132]

This was incredibly helpful, thank you!

[@aa-zj7kd]

For people saying fenec foxes aren't pets: Fenec foxes have been bred and domisticated (like dogs) and have no problem living in modern.

[@ykMMD]

Yet, they are adapted to the desert. They live in hot dry climates. They have super sensitive ears, if you live in the city, owning one is such a terrible fucking idea! The desert is one of the last few 'more or less intact' natural habitat out there. Is it so bad to leave some animals alone? There are plenty you can own that are more adapted to living as pets. The thing with people owning exotic animals as a pet is that even if they have been bred, they require a lot of time, money and space. A lot of them end up dead or abandonned because wild animals should be left alone ffs.

[@gilbertpinfold]

@@ykMMD Too true. Also, it would be difficult to find a veterinarian with expertise, I think.

[@legaldinho]

They aren't domesticated in the desert. They're my country's football mascot, that's the extent to which they are domesticated. They are not dogs. They are a wild animal who in a few individual cases, can be successfully trained to just about minimise their wild instincts in a home.

[@mrsgif8616]

I would love to live with a fennec but having seen how they live in the wild I don't think I could ever offer them a life that would come up to that in their natural environment. It's taken 10,000+ years for us to converge with dogs to the extent where their best life is with us. That's no slight to this lady who obviously loves her pet very much, it just doesn't sit well with me, more's the pity. I will just enjoy them on the screen and look for the perfect whippety dog for me. My concern is that many people put their desires first and don't even attempt to meet the needs of exotic pets, I hope that channels like this don't encourage people to seek out tamed wild pets rather than domesticated animals. I am a great believer in personal freedom but we must also consider the right of animals to live their best life so I am afraid that I support laws preventing ownership of unusual pets, particularly mammals.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Fennec and hamsters have been bred in captivity in the united states for about the same amount of time. A lot more people do a poor job of meeting their hamsters needs than fennec owners. Fennecs are hard to get and expensive. Breeds can afford to be choosy about the homes they go to.

[@Dragonwithagirltattoo3]

Thank you! Very informative.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Glad it was helpful

[@jenniferunderwood8010]

The fennec fox is so cute. It is one of my favorite foxes.

[@foxesandfriends1]

I'm not the only one, I also have two fennec foxes, Tiffany t Tin Tin, they are very cool and funny

[@r3myxp]

This whole video just makes me smile 😊

[@TamanduaGirl]

I'm glad :)

[@krainey]

I'll just watch other peoples fox vids they are super super cute but they seem a bit of a handful they are wild animals I hope people do a lot of research before getting one of these ..

[@TamanduaGirl]

I agree, but it's a bigger problem with red foxes than fennecs. Reds are common and cheap so people don't always research and reds are a lot more trouble. Fennecs are expensive and pretty rare so breeders are picky so homes that don't work out are a lot rarer.

[@inkscars6380]

Thanks as always 🙏🏻

[@isagabi9599]

I want a fox soo bad😭 they are my favorite animals and where I live they are not legal

[@TamanduaGirl]

Unfortunately a lot of placed outlaw them like that.

[@ohhxcake5434]

Sasha_ Gabriella move

[@peachdoesart7175]

@@TamanduaGirl me @ snails

[@steverogers6562]

Isabella Pappas it’s not that easy

[@fisheboy_lover7150]

most places a fox is illegal but fennec foxes are try seeing if its a normal fox if it is fennec fox I am sorry lo ;-;

[@leilaharris9036]

Thank you for doing this I’ve been wanting one for a while now

[@enes8k9]

Thanks a lot for sharing. We learned nice things about these little fellas

[@TamanduaGirl]

Glad it was informative :)

[@nicholas8nj]

Thank you for sharing some of your knowledge about the Fennec Fox. I know there's some problems and cons it's a shame when you have dogs and cats but of course even possums and skunks make good pets listen to some of these people's voices and it doesn't make sense but when the fox gets nervous whether you near a KZbin channel while you're with somebody else it doesn't matter. Thank you again have a good day

[@angeloszavier]

Great advice

[@rico1981]

Thanks for the Vid. That was so cool....👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@TamanduaGirl]

Glad you liked it

[@terryreyes1125]

Foxes are canines 😍😍

[@bigmanjones]

Hey, I don't understand the comments about your demeanor. While a bit nervous, I found you enjoyable to listen to! You said his impressionable period didn't last very long, but didn't give a timeframe, how long exactly should I expect this to last? Cheers!

[@TamanduaGirl]

It started fading in weeks. Best example is I would take him into the living room occasionally but not daily. At first he was perfectly fine and explored, then he was more nervous then the last time I tried he panicked and bolted and ran the wrong way and I had to catch him in a back room. He might have been okay with it if I had made the visits daily but he does seem even more agoraphobic and less inclined to explore than other fennecs naturally, so no way to know now. He rarely even ventures to the other side of the room, and then only if motivated, like if Aurora is on the ground and it's dark, then he will go see her. He was okay with other things like laying on me and being picked up for longer. Oh also the dog was there from day one and is loved by him. It was a few weeks before the cat came in the room and he is scared of the cat due to not having that early exposure. So I think that first month from 8 weeks to 12 weeks is the most vital for bonding and exposing them to whatever you hope he will be okay with. I should have exposed him to more, more frequently from the start. Though to be honest I'm pretty happy with his wanting to stay in one room, a lot less to worry about that way.

[@bigmanjones]

Thanks for the reply :)

[@SnowWhiteTheU2]

Thanks for the video queen ! I love it !

[@thirdceiling9458]

Thank you

[@ziggyarbani4582]

champion of africa algeria's fennec fox!!!.

[@Motherofdragons4780]

Do you think you could please try and do a compelation of his vocalizations? :)

[@TamanduaGirl]

I'd like to at some point. Could take awhile to get them all. In a many cases he stops once he knows I noticed like contact calling or his whistle. I did managed to get his whistle a little bit in an earlier video.

[@Motherofdragons4780]

Anteaters & Foxes That's cool!!

[@TamanduaGirl]

Was going through his old videos and I have one of him laughing. I didn't remember but am glad. He seems to have grown out of that. Would laugh when I pet his butt and when he dug at my feet kzbin.info/www/bejne/boaalHVnoaiqfbM

[@munchyfox5431]

So cute

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you

[@shivshankars840]

@Mary Kay Wallace Is it painful when Fennec fox bites or scratches?

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes, it's like a cat bite, but he's never bitten me. He gives warnings when he doesn't like something and I don't push him.

[@TheMooncharmer]

Awesome video. Very detailed and helpful!! Thank you!!

[@TamanduaGirl]

Glad you liked it

[@calichef1962]

Thank you so much for answering my questions about these adorable foxes over on Lucy's channel. (This video was on the recommended list down the side of that video.) You gave me a really good peek into life with these gorgeous little creatures in this video. I'm old enough to be your mother, but you seem like someone I would be friends with IRL. I'd love to have one or two Fennec foxes, but I can't have them in California where I live. Californians can't even legally own ferrets, let alone any other sorts of exotic mammals. Since we have every climate in California except arctic it is logical to limit exotic pets that could potentially cause environmental havoc competing with the native species. I understand why the laws are in place. If you are still interested in making these vlogs, I'd love to see your ant eater and learn about him or her. Thanks again! :-)

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you. California laws are pretty strict. For some reason they do allow chinchillas there but not much else, not even gerbils. It's a little better in Oregon but I still needed my USDA license to be able to have him. I just have Aurora now, who is a rescue and doesn't like people so I don't get much footage of her but I can use older footage to answer some of the more commonly asked questions about them, like I did for the "are anteaters affectionate?" video.

[@matthewandrade1893]

The fact he loves to dig is a pro. If only he could sheet holes. He could be my best friend if he could beat my record of digging a 300 foot long trench by 10 feet deep and 4 feet wide in only 9 hours (I work in construction so digging is required most of the time just to expose the gas lines we work on)

[@cascadestars]

i, too, like ear pets

[@peachdoesart7175]

That sounds like a pet that lives in your ear

[@gabineshto1293]

@@peachdoesart7175 😂

[@chrisfox7034]

Ah, so people DO feed them captive bred insects! Always wandered that given its part of their diet and, unlike meat, its a lot easier to get ahold of and unlike animal feed, you can make more of it and be in control of what goes into it.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes insects are not the whole diet but a decent portion of it.

[@sintudas7010]

@tamandua girl mam fennec fox is available in India or not and what is the price please tell me

[@Raggo12345]

Nice video! Thanks for sharing.

[@wahnano]

The desert fox is beautiful.

[@lpjokerbane]

Couple questions: How do they fare when your not home? Does he cause any trouble? Do you use leash when taking fennec fox outside or you trained him to come to your voice?

[@TamanduaGirl]

I'm rarely not home since I work from home(even before the current events that made more people do so) He tends to keep to his corner of the room and never leaves the room but some fennecs do tend to explore more and run around the house. If you have to be gone a long time I'd recommend keeping them in a large cage, like he has, when gone. They do sleep a lot but need a good bit of play time as well to burn off energy. I do let him free most of the time but there is always some risk he could find some way to harm himself. I kept him in his enclosure while sleeping when he was young since he did get into more then and means he's not too fussed about it if I have to do it now and then as an adult for his safety. He would chew wires as a kit and has chewed and even consumed bits of fleece blanket, so he can't have those. Thankfully those bits passed but death by blockage happens in fennecs more commonly than other reasons for a young death.

[@elushka29]

You are so sweet, thank you for explaining

[@TamanduaGirl]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@acerolaorion4027]

my friend HATES fennec foxes just because we were playing a game and i spent all my money on one lol

[@BNASTYLW]

Thank you!

[@Dbikgiizis]

Thank you. I have been thinking about getting a fennec fox, and your video answered a number of questions. My question is this: How do you think they'd be around a wood stove? My issue is, being jumpy and from a warm climate, how likely do you think it is they may try to jump on it in winter?

[@TamanduaGirl]

People have cats and wood stoves so it might be okay. Once he knows it's hot he should probably avoid it. Fencing the stove off with a tall x-pen or something to be safe might be a good idea though.

[@ryanklinkerman5180]

I have a question, due to having relatives living out of state and in a state where it is not necessarily legal to take a fennec fox, is there any possibility of actually having someone watch or care for the animal for a few days if he/she is familiar with that person, or would this be too stressful for the animal. P.S. IF this is possible, what would you recommend as the best plan of action to limit stress on the animal while being absent.

[@TamanduaGirl]

That's always a though one because if someone claims to have been bit or even just scratched the government can take and kill your fox, so you have to really trust them. If you have a large enough enclosure you can just have them give food and water from the outside and then you do the cleaning when you get back, but you'll need to really trust the person.

[@hdofu]

Pro:The Fennec Fox is supremely awesome, Con: The fennec fox will hear all your sins and judge you for them with loud screes.

[@dibcamjaicif3490]

do you think ants are in the anteaters tails thats why he nips at them?

[@victoriasunivers]

Can you own a Fennec fox like a dog? Not like walking with them, but more training and playing with them or are they more like a cat that just want some alone time?

[@TamanduaGirl]

They are more cat like but they are little non-domesticated animals that have a high prey animal instinct(instincts that tell them things are scary threats). They can be trained but they have to want to do the thing and on their terms and even hard work wont always pay off. Mine was fine with me brushing and touching his tail when he was young and even picking him up. Once he matured he decided no touching below the belt and he gets nervous if I move anything in his direction. Their open to anything youth window is very short compared to dogs so it's important to expose them to anything you want them to at least tolerate early and consistently. Like, in hindsight I wish I had taken him for daily short drives because he totally loses his mind when I have to take him somewhere in the car. It's really bad. Other noisy things he's been exposed to his whole life he still hates so he may have still switched to hating car rides but maybe if I had exposed him he'd at least freak out less. Another example is the cat. He didn't meet the cat right away since the cat doesn't come in my room much so he has always remained scared of him. If I'd had him meet the cat daily from day one maybe he'd not be scared of him. On the other hand I know of someone's fennec who was raised with their cats and once they grew up decided they didn't like the cats and would go after them whenever the cats touched the floor. They often will have their own ideas once grown like that. Something that helps, that I failed to do, would be hand feed them while still a kit. Get them to sit in your lap for food and touch their butt etc for food. It can make training easier later if they are used to coming to your hands for food. You may find watching some videos on how to train zoo animals helpful. But the sort of it is a lot of the videos where fennecs seem more trained and easy going are not just a lot of hard work but also a special fennec. So do put a lot of consistent time into training and exposure to things right from the start but don't be surprised if they still don't turn out as expected once they grow up and they grow up super fast.

[@victoriasunivers]

@@TamanduaGirl thank you for you’re Answer😀 I have always think that I should have an exotic pet🥰 I’m looking around for more exotic pets I could be interested in, and the fennec is the one I have fallen in love with for now💞

[@anns7387]

Little 'digger' haha....he sounds like a handful! I have kitties and I thought they were demanding. Wow!

[@gamerscar3017]

Thanks for doing these videos, Im trying to learn more about fennec foxes, im planning on getting one in the future! :3

[@ykMMD]

Don't!! They are endangered because people want them as pets and make them miserable.

[@TamanduaGirl]

They are only CITES II, so only threatened in some areas and mush more from other human actions, like destroying the environment. But they have been bred in the USA for as long as hamsters have so it does not impact the wild population.

[@saraeveline6238]

I've heard that fennec foxes smell awful when they're scared or upset. This is true?

[@TamanduaGirl]

They can but so can cats. My cat smells like he pooped himself when I take him to the vet, he doesn't but he smells like it. The fennec gets upset with car rides to the vet as well, so can get a bit of a skunky smell. It's not all that strong though. I usually don't really notice but I live with anteaters who smell strongly skunky all the time. I did notice it clearly when we had to take him in for a blockage and he had to be manhandled a bit for xrays and treatment(he's fine was over a year ago).

[@hindimeinsabkuch]

Mam u are a great person...love from India...

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you.

[@kennieorsted]

Thank you Nice video and fox :-)

[@tomor38]

Awe I wish I owned a fennec fox

[@bigdaddykurt]

Thank you for taking the time to let us know to LEAVE THEM IN THE WILD

[@MalcomMalediction]

We didnt leave farm animals in the wild. We didnt leave birds, rodents, cats, dogs, fish in the wild etc. This small fox with similarities to dogs and cats can be properly domesticated overtime like we have done with cats and dogs. Lets not be hypocritical about this all. BESIDES, its not like a poisonous pet snake or spider and its not like some animal who would attack humans in the wild like a bear or a mountain lion.

[@TamanduaGirl]

His ancestors came from the wild but that was decades ago. He did not.

[@princesspeach37]

bigdaddykurt they live longer in captivation. Ignorance

[@sean_mcgahee]

First off, thank you for taking the time to make this video sharing your experiences with this cool pet.... But, watching this at normal speed was like a trip to the dentist. A denist visit in which you had a wisdom tooth pulled. Thanks to the other posters advice to everyone to play this at 1.5 speed! Man that was the best advice ever!

[@yesnesslargness9305]

we elaboration scientifically plainsong Monticello Flanagan intracranial

[@cherylametewee8716]

this is like a kyle mooney snl sketch. lol

[@erikmurray3661]

Ooh yeah baby 🦊 y foxy hone me huuuuuh yeeeah.

[@fisheboy_lover7150]

I know some that love to be picked up I think its just based on the fox itself :)

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes. Some don't mind being held and there are some things you can do to increase the chances they will be okay with it but most don't like it.

[@mmanch01]

If there is someone who thinks there are negatives to owning a fennec, there is something wrong with him/her...

[@Enjoylifetoday30]

For me it's in their diet.... don't like bugs, lizards, roaches. For that reason I can't, so it's not them it's me.

[@jamayanewton]

Are they compatible with other animals? specifically dogs.

[@TamanduaGirl]

They love dogs if they are raised with them. But sadly my dog does not return those feelings, but he tolerates the fox well.

[@R0MEES]

I want a fennec, I've been doing a ton of research but since I'm not only under 18 but also still in school I can't get one :(

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes, waiting always sucks but it's best for both you and the fox to wait till you are both an adult and have a stable life in place(long term job and home of your own).

[@R0MEES]

Tamandua Girl ok, thanks :D

[@darionclub2158]

CLEARLY they are not pets. NOT PETS. They are wild animals. WILD. Please people don't be egoist and keep wild animals as pets. Just don't. The PRO is basically that it looks and sounds cute and she 'wanted' it and it 'being a fennec'. Heartbreaking thing about the phone making him happy to think it's another fennec but then it's not 💔

[@TamanduaGirl]

I think it may be more of a territorial noise after thinking about it more. It's vastly a male thing to make the noise and a friend who used to breed them would have their males doing it during breeding season while the females just ignored them. He does seem to like it when I answer him though. Also fennecs have been kept and bred in the US for as long as hamsters and have a history of being kept much longer in their native lands. While not fully domesticated it's been long enough there have been some genetic changes like being larger and breeding more often. Like how dogs cycle twice a year and wolves only once. Wild fennecs have one litter a year but those from lines bred in human care for generations cycle more and sometimes have 2-3 litters a year if allowed.

[@thejaysatspindrift]

Im sorry, they are ultra cute but it is still caged sometimes... not all wild animals can be pets, it will adopt any habit to survive ib its surroundings. They are quick, feisty and free and beautiful but imvho should not be captivated. Amazing creatures though.

[@TamanduaGirl]

They have been bred in the USA for as long as hamsters have been. They take more care than the average dog but are not missing a wild they never knew.

[@StuWright]

doesnt seem a great pet, i dont like noise lol

[@nicholas8nj]

Obviously if you don't like noise you might get a stuffed toy of a fox. 🐺

[@PheonixStarsx]

Is that a ferret cage ? Can u use a large ferret cage for a fox

[@TamanduaGirl]

Some people use a large ferret nation but I feel that's the bare minimum and you should try to have them out as much as possible. I made his myself, it's 4x4x6 with 4 levels and a sand box add on.

[@Chocobon_32]

Do you need to have a cage for a fox or can you not have a cage and let them roam like a cat or dog

[@TamanduaGirl]

You should have a large cage for their safety but they can also roam. Similar to crate training a dog but even more important. He would get locked in when young to avoid his getting into trouble like chewing cables and other dangers unsupervised. As he got older he got left out more and more. Now the doors stay open. But if something scary is going on(moving furniture etc.) then he is happier enclosed in his safe place. It's also much easier to grab him when needed. He'll run in there and then I close it up and corner him and can catch him(he doesn't like being picked up). We had to evacuate for a few days recently due to fire and it went smoothly because the cage let me catch him easily and quickly.

[@georgemoralez2129]

Have you considered getting another Fennec Fox for a playmate?

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes but I'm concerned it would cause more issues than it would anything else other than maybe make me happy to have another fennec. They often don't pay much attention to each other when you do have multipul. I'd hate to possibly upset our happy relationship. He'd probably be happier with a chihuahua puppy. He LOVES the dog but the dog isn't fond of him.

[@dmarksvr]

[@Geerladenlad]

Snack for a snake. I know someone that has a chihuahua and that's what I tell her that her chihuahua is a snack for snake🐍

[@TamanduaGirl]

He would eat a small snake.

[@Geerladenlad]

@@TamanduaGirl Yeah but if you take a water moccasin or a boa constrictor or a python that little blighter we would be a nice bulge in the snake tummy.

[@hollywoodhorse34]

You look really nice I can relate to having yo take care of animals since I've had 16 dogs

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you

[@rachellipsitz8720]

16 dogs?? wow

[@texasboy1457]

Where are the new videos?!?!

[@TamanduaGirl]

I'm sorry. It's partly because he no longer likes the camera. I did get some security cameras that work but it's hard to go through so mush footage. I'll try to get something new up.

[@spongebobsquarepants1196]

Are fennec foxes legal in California?

[@nicholas8nj]

I asked Google and some states it's legal

[@TamanduaGirl]

No they are not legal in California.

[@oystersoupkitchenfloorwaxm1457]

@@TamanduaGirl i think i would get one, second to a cat, but not being able to pick him up or petting him at any time kinda sucks, is there a way to teach them that when they are children?

[@TamanduaGirl]

He lets me pet him, he just doesn't like to be picked up. You can train better by only giving them their food for doing things, starting simple like just having them come for it and feed by hand, then working up to other things like getting on you for it, putting your hand on them, then maybe eventually be picked up for treats/food. I didn't do that as a kit and would be scared to start now since he went through a scrawny phase when young and had to tweak his diet for him. I can hold him, and he doesn't bite but will kick if not held firmly.

[@MalcomMalediction]

if hes not food motivated, could it be because u already fed him a whole meal not long ago. Maybe u could try using his favourite toy as motivation

[@TamanduaGirl]

I think some people take the daily ration of food and dole it out as rewards for training. I'm afraid to mess with his diet because he went through a skinny phase where he just picket at his food then I noticed he ate well on the days he got a chick so he gets a daily chick for breakfast and his meal of rabbit and insects when I go to bed. So actually he goes all day without food, between breakfast and bed, most of the time unless I give him some extra worms to entertain him. I did recently discover he goes insane for cooked green beans so maybe I can give those a tray for training.

[@breadstick.6438]

Nothing against you but I feel like your fennec should be kind of free roaming (also if you said something about that I'm sorry I didn't watch completely.)

[@Motherofdragons4780]

How did you come up with his name? 😀

[@TamanduaGirl]

Ikigai is Japanese for "Reason for Being" Like your own personal reason for existing. I've wanted a fennec since before the anteaters but never felt like it was the right time before, so it's fitting.

[@Motherofdragons4780]

Anteaters & Foxes That's adorable!!!

[@holleysdotcom]

Oh, I'm so glad! When I first watched this video, I thought you called him "Icky Guy", like he was a messy fellow. LOL

[@nicholas8nj]

@@TamanduaGirl it's always a reason for everything. Great Choice🎉😃🐺

[@-lexdrawz-8262]

I want to own a fennec fox but raise them as a pup so that maybe things might work out a little better all I need is reaserch and patchiance and a report to give to my dad and MAYBE he could buy me one ouo

[@TamanduaGirl]

I recommend waiting. Breeders hand raise them to make them tame but it wont stop their bad habits, they still pee and mark things, chew things, steal things and lots of things your parents might not like. If you are under age and your parents buy one it will be theirs and they can rehome it if they don't like it. Even as an adult if living in someone's home they can make you get rid of it, if you can't move.

[@Cavolfipriecapperi]

It should not be in a cage. For the rest, thank you for saying the bad parts so people won't blindly take one thinking it's just like a small dog/cat

[@TamanduaGirl]

The enclosure has as much total floor space as a small room counting all the levels and the sand box. Foxes free roaming the house can die from impactions from eating things they shouldn't and can get tangled in cables and such or break bones. It is safer for them to have a safe place to be when unsupervised.

[@DEMONIKMINION]

Do you put bugs in the sandbox?

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes. I'll put super worms in there for him. Usually at night so he has something to do for awhile but sometimes during the day if he seems hungry and needs a snack. Some nights I put the worms in the puzzle feeder instead to keep it mixed up a bit.

[@SnowWhiteTheU2]

Are roaches a mandatory part of their diet ?

[@TamanduaGirl]

Insects are highly suggested to be a large part of their diet. A varriey is good and roaches have good nutrition, and are really easy to raise so are cheap food once you have a population going. You could feed them a variety of other insects if you really have a problem with roaches.

[@deniseg812]

I am so turned off to the fact of the roach. I can't stand them. She takes it so ez.

[@TamanduaGirl]

The super worms bother me a bit more because they bite sometimes.

[@joke1965]

@@TamanduaGirl what!!!!

[@P121-27]

Because they belong in the WILD

[@TamanduaGirl]

There is very little "wild" left. It wont be long before most species are extinct unless in humane care.

[@raulmaya2124]

How much space do these guys need?

[@TamanduaGirl]

The bare minimum is the largest ferret nation. A decent amount of people keep their in those but they need lots of out of cage play time. It should just be used how you would kennel a dog, so far while you can't be home or awake watching them. I personally don't like that small of a cage though so I built him one myself that is 4x4x6 with 4 levels and a sand box add on that gives him lots of room. Since I'm here most of the time he gets to be free most of the time and chooses to spend a lot fo time in there since he's happy with it. Some people give them their own room as well.

[@devilkitty13]

Where did you get the cage?

[@TamanduaGirl]

I made it. I used 2 6x2 foot shelving units and cubic shelf wire grids for the sides.

[@rdeh1678]

You can always buy 2 ferret nation mansion cages and connect them , but her cage looks great

[@assassinscreedreallifepran1080]

Is fennec fox aggressive?

[@TamanduaGirl]

When bottle raised they are nice but can have their moments. He is possessive over me with the dog sometimes but was easily corrected. He's never bitten but some of them do. If he complains about something I stop instead of push it but when he got aggressive with the dog I just had to pick him up when he growled at the dog and he stopped because he doesn't like being picked up, most fennecs don't.

[@assassinscreedreallifepran1080]

@@TamanduaGirl Thanks for replying! I needed this because I was curious. I really want to adopt a fennec fox.

[@eliyasage4030]

Thank you so much for this video! You seem quite nervous.. whatever could be making you nervous, I hope you're Okay :)

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you for the concern. It was my first attempt at filming myself for the channel so was nervous and do have anxiety which makes it harder.

[@ronaleerasmussen3906]

Are they good with kids?

[@TamanduaGirl]

No. Breeders wont sell to families with small children. They can be nippy or bitey if you are not good at reading them and they have very fragile bones and can be easily severely hurt.

[@goodbetterbestmusic]

Well if you didnt keep him in a cage but treated him like a n actual member of your family, he would be more tame. Its cruel keeping such a social animal by itself

[@TamanduaGirl]

Or he would be dead. The most common cause for young fennecs(and many household pets) is impaction from ingesting a foreign body. The easiest way to avoid this is have a safe place to keep them(cage, crate, pen, call it what you will), when not supervised. If you avoid doing the responsible thing because of feelings and ignore the logical and safe thing then you are an irresponsible care giver. His enclosure is very large and the door is almost always open since I work from home and can trust him more now that he's an adult. However this trust is actually more irresponsible than having a safe place to keep him when not supervised. A risk I choose to take, but a fall from getting up high or stealing or ingesting something while I sleep is a real risk still. I admit not the most responsible choice but it is a calculated risk since he mostly sticks to his corner of the room. PS he was free in this video, with enclosure doors open. He was in his safe place by choice.

[@lavaunjohns7796]

I just can't wrap my brain around wild animals as pets unless you can provide an outdoor enclosure that mimics their natural habitat. The anteater threw me lol.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you for watching and leaving a civil comment. The problem is thinking of nature as good. Nature is neither good or bad. It is balanced. There is disease, extremes of temperature and weather, predators, famine, fire. That is all natural. But we have also caused imbalance of nature with more changes, deforestation, more fires than normal, cars killing animals, getting electrocuted on power lines, dogs and cats killing wildlife and other domestic animals introducing and spreading more disease, pollution etc. The animals have a simpler way of thinking than we do. The anteater does not crave to climb trees but craves to climb, they have plenty to climb here, it does not crave burrows and hallow logs but craves a hiding spot, it has a den box, a washing machine(it goes in to sleep by choice) and a high secluded shelf. They do not even crave ants but crave something tasty to eat and need a properly balanced diet for their needs, which they get, plus some ants. I find old logs to be clawed for fun and they get the benefit of vet care and a diet balanced to meet their needs while being free from parasites they are normally riddled with in the wild. In the wild a tamandua anteater only lives a few short years. Pua lived to nearly 13 and Aurora(a rescue by the way) is about 10 now. All that said an anteater is not a good pet for the vast majority of people because they are an unusual animal that requires special care that is more than most can provide. Fennec foxes are a lot easier in comparison to anteaters. But people should thoroughly research any species of animal they might want before diving in.

[@lavaunjohns7796]

Very well spoken and very true. I too often see people obtain wild creatures and attempt to train them to live in their home as a dog or cat would only to end up putting them in cramped quarters and neglecting their care because they weren't what they thought they would be. I must say your choice of family members is way out of the ordinary and it appears you really know your stuff when it comes to caring for these beautiful oddities you know what to do. I love that you point out the life expectancy in the wild and in captivity and that you get pretty creative in trying to mimic what their needs are like the washing machine. Without meaning to you certainly have a sense of humor. Thank you for enlightening.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you. It's usually a bigger problem with the easier to get exotics. Red fox for example are plentiful and cheap so a lot of people get them without doing research. They are technically easy to care for if you know what is required and what you're getting into. I think higher prices help some. I rarely hear of issues with fennecs which cost many times what reds do and are harder to get. Being rarer the breeders are choosier about homes. --- Anteaters are even more than that now and I don't know anyone that will sell to someone who's not USDA licensed because of their difficulty level.

[@joanofarc33]

Ant eaters? Seriously?😳 And is that a hammock in his cage?

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes to both. The fennec loves his hammock though spends a good deal of time on his window shelf or in his sand box as well.

[@princesspeach37]

Thank you so much for videos like this. My favorite animals have been foxes for forever and I always wanted a red/Arctic/gray fox, but realized that they were not for me when I researched them. I got into fennec foxes a few weeks ago and have wanted one since, but now is not the time. When we move I am possibly getting one, but I am going to have as much information about them stored as I can, because if I can’t parent them right, then that’s just animal abuse! I can’t wait until I can befriend one of these darlings. 💓

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you for researching first. Fennecs are definitely easier than reds and arctics.

[@ziggyarbani4582]

fennec fox 1...terranga lion 0...africa cup of nations.

[@CloudyyvilleThoughts]

Is it true that foxes are tricksters?

[@TamanduaGirl]

Not really. They are very clever but I wouldn't say the does anything to purposefully trick me. He will try to sneak and steal something, but not trick as in make a distraction, and sometimes find ways to get where he shouldn't.

[@darineal-rajab1855]

your so cute, I wanna be your friend

[@TamanduaGirl]

Thank you

[@kelvynification]

Anteater!!!!!?????

[@TamanduaGirl]

Yes, tamanduas are small anteaters and how the channel started. I just have one old lady left now who is a rescue so not happy for my attention so I just care for her and don't usually bother her with filming or photos.

[@TiberiusStorm]

They are wild animals so probably not good to keep as pets.

[@TamanduaGirl]

Many people have them as pets. There are domestic breeders for them and they are raised tame. They are more work and trouble than most domestic pets though.

[@TheLastXeno]

Yeah, no. :)

[@modifiedbarbie]

If doing youtube videos makes you so panicked then yoy probably shouldnt do them

[@TamanduaGirl]

Nah you only get over fears by facing them. I'll re-do it eventually once I get better and this is older.

[@modifiedbarbie]

@@TamanduaGirl I guess thats one way to handle a fear Thats good

[@jeltai5151]

drugs are no good for you

[@tzomilucanin8404]

And for You?

[@damienbunting873]

Fuck off.

[@ivykat9009]

Raptor seriously? You can’t touch him. Threatening people only is just so lame.