Fennec foxes are increasingly kept as exotic pets but have specialized needs that make them challenging to maintain with high welfare standards in domestic settings.
Fennec fox welfare in captivity is frequently compromised by inadequate understanding of their specialized needs. As desert-adapted animals, they require temperatures, diet, and humidity conditions that differ significantly from typical domestic pet environments. Their strong burrowing drive and nocturnal activity cycles are often suppressed in household settings. Dental disease, nutritional deficiencies, and behavioral stereotypies are common in poorly managed captive fennecs. Where keeping is legal, welfare requires extensive research before acquisition and commitment to meeting their specialized needs.