Hey Bill, would you have any advice for caring for pokemon of different/opposite typings? I’d like to adopt both a vulpix and an alolan vulpix, and I want to make sure they’re able to both get along and be happy and healthy.

The main thing about taking care of pokémon with opposite typings is that it’s important to keep in mind that as a trainer, you’re very likely going to be doing this anyway. Unless you’re only raising one pokémon or you’re attempting to become a type specialist (and in some cases, not even then), you will likely catch and raise a wide variety of pokémon at once in order to build an effective team. Otherwise, you may struggle to be successful in any given pokémon league, as you will absolutely encounter trainers, particularly gym leaders, who will carry a vast assortment of pokémon and are armed with enough experience and strategic skills to make limiting yourself to a single type a challenge.

And even if you aren’t a trainer, it’s very likely that if you own more than one pokémon, their needs will be completely different, especially if their types aren’t the same. This is true, even if their pokémon types aren’t actually incompatible. Raising a meowth is nothing like raising a magikarp, and it’s a good idea to keep this in mind as well.

With that said, the trick to raising multiple pokémon with different types is to not think about the way their types interact with each other. Rather, think about pokémon as individuals. This will help reduce the confusion or intimidation you may face when doing research into what your pokémon need. That is to say, even if raising pokémon with different types may seem like an arduous task, if you split it up into the needs of one pokémon and then the needs of the other, it becomes quite manageable.

As you do your research, make lists of what you would need, from space requirements to basics for each of your pokémon. Cross reference these lists to see if you can double up. For example, Alolan vulpix and standard vulpix actually have the exact same diet, so you don’t need to buy special food for them separately; this will help reduce the cost of feeding them and the amount of space you would need to store their food. For another example, most ground-types need a sandbox or other structure set up to allow them to give themselves dust baths for routine grooming. Coincidentally, bird pokémon also need dust baths for parasite removal, especially if you primarily keep them outside (as you would with larger birds, such as braviary or pidgeot). Keeping one dust bath for both your sandslash and your pidgeot will keep them both happy.

Of course, the other most important thing you need to know is work with your breeder or shelter. Some pokémon don’t fare well with members of a different type. This has nothing to do with their species and everything to do with the individual (and usually how they were raised previously to coming into your care). Even if Alolan vulpix and standard vulpix actually get along quite well normally, you could come into trainership of a specific Alolan vulpix who is terrified of fire-types. It’s still possible to train that Alolan vulpix to not fear fire-types, but this will take a fair amount of time and effort and certainly changes your requirements either way. (For one thing, you will quite literally need to create a space that allows your Alolan vulpix to live in your home entirely separately from your standard vulpix without stressing either of them out. That’s a bit of a challenge for most trainers.) So always ask questions to gain an understanding of your pokémon before you adopt them.

Other than that, it’s all as I’ve said a matter of doing research into the specific species you wish to adopt and train, but for Alolan vulpix and standard vulpix in particular, this post may be a good place to start: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/154749948831/what-are-different-care-methods-for-alolan-vulpix

Best of luck!

Vulpix and Ninetales

bills-pokedex:

Vulpix
The Fox Pokémon
Type: Fire
Official Registration #: 37
Entry: A small, fox-like pokémon known for its beautiful tails, of which it has six when fully grown. While young, this pokémon’s fire abilities are mediocre at best, and its strongest move, Fire Blast, is roughly as potent as a charmeleon’s Flamethrower. However, in rare cases, vulpix may be born with the passive ability Drought, which allows it to subconsciously call down intense sunlight to strengthen any fire-type move used in its presence. Incidentally, this small, fox-like creature shares the aforementioned ability with the legendary behemoth of the earth, Groudon, a beast known for nearly destroying the world beneath the unrelenting sunlight it called forth. …Which is to say that the pokémon world is a bizarre and terrifying thing sometimes.

Ninetales
The Fox Pokémon
Type: Fire
Official Registration #: 38
Entry: The evolved form of vulpix, via exposure to fire stone. The legend that a ninetales will lay a thousand-year curse on you if you touch one of its tails is exactly that: a legend and therefore not true. What is true, however, is the fact that ninetales are generally sensitive about their tails and will set you on fire if you so much as accidentally brush up against one.

Vulpix (Alola form)
The Fox Pokémon
Type: Ice
Official Registration #: 37
Entry: This adorable cousin to the common vulpix, known by native Alolans as keokeo, is popular in the region not only for its cute appearance but also its practicality. When the weather is warmer than it likes, Alolan vulpix will fan its cloud-like tails and create ice crystals from them, effectively serving as a living air conditioner for its immediate surroundings. However, although it may be tempting to venture into its native habitat on the slopes of Mount Lanakila to catch one, a trainer should be warned that this is a dangerous idea, largely because of the vulpix themselves. Attempting to catch an Alolan vulpix may incur the wrath of other vulpix (which typically freeze intruders solid) but also the ninetales that always lurks near vulpix kits (which will freeze intruders solid before throwing them off the mountain). On the positive side, if your goal was to catch a vulpix in order to cool yourself off on hot Alolan summer afternoons, at least you’ll have that.

Ninetales (Alola form)
The Fox Pokémon
Type: Ice/Fairy
Official Registration #: 38
Entry: The evolved form of Alolan vulpix, by exposure to ice stone. This beautiful Alolan cousin to the common ninetales was once worshipped by native Alolans due to its rarity, ethereal nature, and tendency to dwell only on the peak of Mount Lanakila, the tallest and most sacred site in all of Alola. To this day, it acts as a guardian of Mount Lanakila by guiding wayward souls down the snowy slopes … purely because that’s the only way to get them to leave faster. In other words, this is yet another pokémon after the author’s own heart.

Hey there, Bill! I recently did some crossbreeding between my female Alolan Ninetails and a male Ninetails from out of region, the two are getting along great and their first clutch hatched, with no visible health problems. I have a permit and everything is current, and when the pups where old enough I sold them for profit, but kept one, Lago, and he seems to have some type crossing as well. He’s very handsome, but how would you recommend caring for a Fire/Ice type? I want him to be comfortable.

This is surprisingly fairly easy, anonymous. A vulpix exhibiting unusual typing still requires the same basic care as literally any other vulpix; it’s just that they’re also tolerant to a wider range of temperatures than normal for either subspecies. In other words, you don’t have to go to extraordinary lengths to house or care for vulpix like yours. They’ll be just fine at room temperature. But it’s a good idea to discern which type it most closely battles like, as a true fire/ice vulpix doesn’t really exist when it comes to its abilities, and understanding your vulpix’s true type is important for development.

Also, as a disclaimer, while it’s true some breeders try to breed these sorts of vulpix intentionally (as they’re easier to care for), such crossbreeding carries with it risks of mutations that are unviable for life, so only do it if you know what you’re doing (and can do so in ethical conditions, of course).

What would happen if a Vulpix had one parent that was an ice type (Alolan) and one that was a fire type? Is it possible to breed a unique ice-fire hybrid?

I admit I’m starting to wonder why many if not all of the asks regarding crossbreeding Alolan and standard variation pokémon have to do with the vulpix family. It’s rather surprising, given the popularity of meowth among breeders, sandshrew and geodude among trainers, rattata among pet owners, and diglett among those with impeccable fashion sense.

That aside, the answer is simple, anonymous: if one parent is an Alolan variation pokémon, the breed of the offspring will depend on where the egg spends most of its time incubating. If the egg is laid and hatched in Alola, then it will be an Alolan pokémon, except in certain circumstances outlined here: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/158328002265/hey-bill-what-do-you-think-would-occur-if-a

Hi! I was thinking about adopting a vulpix. Could you tell me the pros and cons of both alolan and non alolan vulpix? Thanks

Care for the two variations is more or less the same, anonymous. The only differences is that Alolan vulpix are generally seen to be slightly harder for the following reasons:

1. Grooming. Their cloud-like manes and tails capture more debris than the neatly curled manes and tails of standard vulpix. Thus, Alolan vulpix require more vigorous daily brushing to maintain its peak mental health. Moreover, its fur only gets harder to groom after it evolves, not only because an Alolan ninetales possesses thicker, longer, and more unruly manes and tails but also because Alolan ninetales are far more fickle than standard ninetales.

2. Personality. While standard ninetales are far more hot-headed (forgive the pun) and much easier to provoke, they’re also easier to predict and understand. That is, a standard ninetales will never attack for no reason. However, although it’s famed for its calm demeanor, Alolan ninetales’s affinity for the fairy element may make it more mischievous and prone to trickery. It’s said that you should never lay a hand on a standard ninetales … but you should never turn your back on an Alolan one.

By contrast, however, the variations of vulpix are nearly identical, although the Alolan one tends to be calmer and easier to please.

3. Evolution. The ice stone needed to evolve an Alolan vulpix into ninetales is extremely rare, available only in certain parts of Alola and the Arctic Circle. By contrast, fire stone is readily available, so if your standard vulpix wishes to evolve (or if you wish to evolve your standard vulpix), all it takes is a visit to a reputable stone dealer.

All of this isn’t to chase you off the idea of raising an Alolan vulpix, anonymous. Both forms make for excellent pets and partner pokémon, and if you prefer a calmer pokémon or one of the ice element, the Alolan variation is an excellent choice. (At the very least, it won’t set fire to your possessions or home.) It’s just that overall, it’s a bit more of a challenge to raise, especially if you’re considering evolving it at some point in time.

I live in Kanto, and caught a Vulpix in the wild quite a while ago, and a friend from Alola recently traded me an Alolan Vulpix. They seem to be rather jealous of each other, and keep fighting over toys and food. I’m afraid my Kantonian Vulpix might hurt my Alolan Vulpix, any tips to keep them from fighting?

You may have introduced them to one another too quickly, anonymous. It may be prudent to start over by following similar steps outlined in this post (http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/159389928380/so-i-live-in-a-house-converted-to-two-apartments, or formal supervised introductions in which you place both vulpix in the same, comfortable room a fair distance apart, then work your way to a point where they can interact comfortably in close proximity to one another). As it stands, it’s very likely that your Kantonian vulpix is experiencing jealousy due to fear that it may be replaced, whereas your Alolan vulpix may be experiencing jealous because it considers the older vulpix competition for resources. If you provide both with equal amounts of everything (food, toys, and so forth) and work to introduce them slowly and through supervised play, perhaps reinforced with team building exercises, you may be able to alleviate some of the tension between them.

Best of luck, anonymous!

My alolan ninetails recently had babies and one of the babies has red fur on the tuff of his chest. I named him Speckles in honor of the red coloring but does that mean he is part fire type? do i have to treat him different than his other siblings?

Very occasionally, Alolan vulpix will be born with spots of red fur due to a slight genetic abnormality, anonymous. However, rest assured that the genes for fur color are not linked to the ones that control elemental affinities in most pokémon, and as such, the difference is purely aesthetic in nature. Your vulpix kit is still an ice-type, and you won’t have to treat him any different than his siblings.

I work at a pokemon rehabilitation center, and one of our recent pokemon is an illegally obtained Alolan Vulpix, who is very young. I was never trained in caring for alolan pokemon, because of the fact that I’m stationed in Fiore. What does it need?

For the basics, you may wish to consult this post: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/154749948831/what-are-different-care-methods-for-alolan-vulpix

Essentially, caring for an Alolan vulpix is very similar to a standard vulpix; the only difference is in its temperature tolerance and how one cares for its coat. However, so long as you keep it cool and brush it daily (especially right around the time it blows out one coat for another), then it should be fine.

Meanwhile, be sure to care for its psychological needs. Illegally obtained pokémon often go through some form of trauma, either due to the abuse involved in being captured or in being “cared for” thereafter. Evaluate this vulpix’s psychological health as soon as possible, and if it seems it’s developed any nervous habits, be sure to take the appropriate steps in order to reestablish trust. Always place this vulpix in a comfortable environment, approach it slowly and with non-threatening gestures, and provide plenty of affection throughout its stay with you.

Best of luck, anonymous!

Hi Bill! I have a primarily fire-type team, which causes a lot of problems since everyone tends to be a little ‘hot-headed.’ I just adopted a quilava, and my vulpix, growlithe and flareon have been picking on him a lot. They’ve started a LOT of fires, and now they’re dragging the rest of the team into things… let’s just say a certain vaporeon got fed up with the bickering and I had to rush someone to the pokemon center last week. Any suggestions?

You may wish to consider spending a bit more time training each of them every day. For your vulpix, growlithe, and flareon, this is a great way to release pent-up aggression in a constructive manner, especially if you also train them to focus their negative energies into their attacks. You may also consider some team building exercises, such as double-battling or joint-training. This can be done either by pairing your other pokémon with your quilava (which will help him integrate into your team) or with each other (which will help reinforce what it means to be on a team in the first place). Finally, see if you can communicate how destructive behavior—including bullying and literally destroying your home with fire—is affecting not only your quilava but your family as a whole. It’s possible that if you speak clearly but firmly like a loving parent, your pokémon will understand.

If all else fails, training will of course help your quilava to get stronger, and it can learn the rock-type move Rollout naturally, just before evolution. Just as a thought.

Hey Bill, what do you think would occur if a regular-form and an Alolan-form Ninetales were bred together? Or would they not even be compatible mates since they would never interact in the wild?

They’re technically breeds of the same species, so yes, they’re compatible. What’s interesting about both forms of ninetales is actually that whether their young is fire or ice depends on two factors: which region the egg is laid in and whether or not one of the parents is holding an everstone. The more obvious of the two is the regional detail. An egg laid in Alola will always hatch into an ice-type, whereas an egg laid elsewhere will hatch into a fire-type. This may be because the unique environment of Alola triggers the shift towards vulpix’s Alolan variation, even if one of their parents is the fire-type ninetales.

As for the everstone, that is an interesting object in general when it comes to pokémon breeding. By itself, the everstone has the power to override a pokémon’s physiological shifts. Outside of breeding, this means that the everstone has the power to block evolution, even if a pokémon wants to evolve and/or is in contact with an evolution stone. When it comes to breeding, however, an everstone has the power to boost a parent’s genetic traits and “lock” them into their young. For example, let’s say you have a pikachu with Lightning Rod as its ability. Even though this is technically a recessive gene for the pikachu species, giving that parent an everstone overrides the egg’s tendency to shift towards the more dominant option of Static and instead locks it onto the same ability as the parent pikachu. Something very similar happens when breeding an Alolan and a standard variation of a pokémon. If you give an everstone to the Alolan parent, the breed of the egg will “lock” onto the genes for an Alolan variation. If, however, the standard variation is given the everstone, then the resulting egg will become a standard variation of that species.