by Carolyn Tytler

Created on: November 10, 2008

At first glance, the fennec fox looks like the sweetest, most desirable pet in the world. The smallest of the canid family, it's adult weight will reach only 2 to 3.5 pounds. The body length is about 16 inches, and its long bushy tail may add another 9 inches. It measures only about 8 inches tall at the shoulder.

The natural habitat of this mammal is the sandy Sahara Desert and other parts of North Africa. It has large batlike ears, up to 5.9 inches long, which radiate body heat and help keep it cool during hot days. Its long, thick, cream-colored fur insulates against daytime heat, but also keeps it warm during cold desert nights. Even the fox's feet are furry so it can walk painlessly on the hot desert sand.

The fennec fox is nocturnal. It is also an omnivore. In the wild, it hunts during the night for rodents, lizards, birds and bird eggs. It gets most of its water from its food, but will drink water when it's available. It can last for long periods without water, and sometimes will eat berries and leaves in order to get more of the scarce liquid.

As a pet, the fennec will thrive on a high-protein brand of dry dog or cat food, supplemented by fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, crickets, meal worms and canned dog or cat food.

These animals are expert climbers and diggers. They live in underground dens, in small communities in the wild. In the home, dog crates are satisfactory. The fox should be crated when not supervised; otherwise it will get into all kinds of mischief. It is very energetic, active, curious and a masterful escape artist.

An outdoor pen should be completely covered with mesh and have fencing which extends for many feet underground, otherwise your pet will tunnel its way to freedom. These little animals can dig up to twenty feet a night in their natural environment.

You can take your pet for walks on a leash, but be careful that it cannot wiggle out of its collar or harness. Once loose, it will be very difficult to recapture.

Fennec foxes are basically wild animals. They cannot be domesticated like dogs. Because of this, house training can be a challenge. However, some animals take to a litter box or secure outdoor pen quite readily. The process involves taking the fox to the litter box or outdoor pen quite frequently, and rewarding it with lots of treats for doing its business in the appropriate place.

The issue of owning exotic pets is controversial. There are many factors to consider before purchasing or adopting one of these little foxes:

* Many areas

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