How Much Does A Lizard Cost?

Many people will purchase their pets on a whim, not taking into consideration the amount of money it will take to keep them annually after they’ve bought them.

Unlike many common household pets, such as dogs and cats, many reptiles will have specialized needs, and will require a constant supply of food, as well as a suitable habitat to live in. 

How Much Does A Lizard Cost

This is why it’s so important to outline all of the costs before you purchase any kind of reptile, as you’ll need to make sure that you can support all the associated costs on a monthly basis.

Thankfully, that’s where we come in. Below, we’ve compiled this handy guide that will help to give you a breakdown of some of the costs associated with owning a reptile. 

To find out more about the subject, simply keep reading below, as we take a closer look.

How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Lizard?

Now, first of all, why don’t we take a look at some of the initial costs you can expect to make when purchasing a lizard. Of course, the cost of your specific lizard will depend on the species you’re planning on purchasing.

A leopard gecko, for example, will have very different costs and needs than that of a snake. 

So, how much do different varieties of lizards cost? If you’re planning on purchasing a snake, then the initial costs of these creatures can be anywhere between 100 and 1000 dollars, depending on the species you’re planning to buy.

If you’re planning on purchasing a bearded dragon, on the other hand, you will only be required to pay approximately 70 dollars, as they’re relatively cheap. 

An argentine black, or white tego, cost approximately 180 dollars, whilst a crested gecko might cost you over 200. It all depends on the type of reptile you want to purchase. 

How Much Does It Cost To Feed A Lizard?

Now that we’ve taken a closer look at the initial costs when buying a lizard, we can move on to discuss how much it costs to feed a lizard. Lizards are renowned for being expensive to feed, so you’ll need to make sure you can afford the monthly costs. 

For example, on average, your pet lizard will cost you approximately 80 dollars per month to feed, along with the costs of electricity, and maintaining their habitat.

Of course, it’s hard to give an exact estimate, as each lizard species has a required diet with its own set of costs. 

If you’re looking for a cheaper variety of lizard, then we’d recommend that you look into geckos. Geckos are relatively cheap to feed, and live exclusively on a diet of mealworms.

Thankfully, mealworms last a long time, and they will cost you approximately 15 dollars for a pack. This pack should last you for a total of three months, making geckos generally cheap to take care of in terms of food costs. 

If you’re thinking of becoming an iguana owner, however, then we’d recommend that you take a closer look at the breakdown of the costs. Iguanas are known as being the only species of lizard which are herbivores.

This means that their diet only consists of fresh plants and fruits, which can become incredibly costly over time. 

If you’re planning on purchasing an iguana, then you can expect to pay approximately 90 dollars per month on their diet alone. 

How Much Do Lizard Enclosures Cost?

Now that we’ve taken a look at how much lizards cost to feed, we can move on to discuss some of the costs related to their enclosures. Lizard enclosures will be one of the most expensive initial payments you make in relation to your new pet.

The enclosure costs will depend on how large they are. 

On average, the enclosure you buy will be anywhere between 75 to 300 dollars. It’s true that the more expensive the enclosure, the better the quality will be, so we’d recommend not skimping here if you can afford to.

In addition to this, you will be required to purchase a screen lid to place on top of the enclosure, which typically costs approximately 30 dollars. 

Another thing you’ll need to consider in terms of taking care of your new pet is the substrate in their enclosure, which will need to be replaced and maintained on a regular basis to make sure your pet is in a healthy environment. 

Substrates will typically cost you anywhere between 15 to 30 dollars per month. 

What Are The Veterinary Costs For Lizards?

The final cost that you’ll need to take into consideration, are veterinary bills, just in case anything should happen to your lizard. We’d recommend that you should expect to pay anywhere between 40 to 200 dollars in veterinary fees when it comes to your reptile.

It’s difficult to give an exact figure in terms of this, as it will depend on the specific issue your reptile is experiencing. 

Final Thoughts

To sum up, there’s a lot more to think about when it comes to owning a reptile than the initial costs of purchasing these animals. You should also take into consideration veterinary bills, the monthly costs of food, maintaining their habitat, and also substrate.

Levi Johnson
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