Pets can be our very best friends in the world, and when it comes to getting a pet, generally you have a clear idea as to how much they will cost from the moment you buy them, to their everyday care.
But leopard geckos have become more and more sought after as a pet over the years, and due to their nature, they might not be as clear in terms of their price.
It’s important to know that there are a whole host of different leopard geckos with different colors and patterns and their price range fluctuates from being widely affordable to over $3,000. Therefore, you can technically find a leopard gecko for as little or as much as you want to spend.
Indeed, there is a common misconception that all leopard geckos are cheap to purchase, but things like pedigree and their appearance will make a huge difference. So, we’ve written this handy guide that looks to explain how their pricing works.
We will examine why their price fluctuates and everything else you might need to know. Ready to learn more? Then let’s dive in and find out the answers.
What Does A Leopard Gecko Cost?
As we mentioned, you can find leopard geckos for a whole range of prices. Some can be found for as little as $15, whereas others can cost $3,000 or even more. The accepted average cost for a leopard gecko is between $30 and $75.
Due to the huge range of prices available, leopard geckos are a great choice for pet owners, because you can literally spend almost whatever you can. However, some of the biggest impacts to their price includes the breeder, bloodline and morph. Let’s look at that in more detail.
Morph
Morph is perhaps the biggest factor in determining the price of a leopard gecko. Morph is the term used to describe leopard geckos that have a particular pattern, size or color – and there are around 50 different morph species.
Interestingly, the most expensive morph ever recorded was a black pearl morph bred by The Urban Gecko and this sold for $3,000 for each gecko. Of course, some morphs are more difficult to breed than others are and this results in a different price range.
More expensive leopard geckos normally have a recessive trait and this can take multiple generations to achieve such a trait. One such example of this is shown with the albino gecko. While any leopard gecko can hold the recessive gene of albinism, dominant genes normally overpower it.
So, to produce an albino offspring, you’d need to breed it with another gecko with these genes. Some of prices of morphs include:
- Standard: $30
- Fancy: $50
- Raptor: $150
- Tremper: $250
- Lemon Frost: $350
- Black Pearl: $3,000
Lineage
Lineage is another big factor when determining the price of a leopard gecko. This is the pedigree of a gecko. If a leopard gecko is well known for having a strong lineage with excellent breeding results, they will likely be more expensive.
A famous lineage like this is the Hot Geckos Tangerine, which is a breed of leopard geckos with distinct neon orange coloring, similar to a tangerine. It’s important to note that sometimes, morphs can have well known problems, which are often neurological – and one example of this is the enigma.
Much like some dog breeds, these morphs have inherited genetic abnormalities. Generally speaking, lineage only comes into the thought process when purchasing a leopard gecko if you are a breeder or someone with extensive knowledge of leopard geckos, like experienced keepers. First time keepers can discount this consideration.
Additional Factors
Bizarrely, the state you live in will also play a role in the overall price of a leopard gecko. Ohio and Florida usually have cheaper leopard geckos than Michigan or Virginia for example. This is likely due to the fact that the former states have some of the largest numbers of reptile ownership in the whole country.
States where these lizards are few in numbers will find the prices much higher. It’s important to note at this point that there are some states, like Hawaii, where owning a leopard gecko is actually against the law. Additionally, while it isn’t illegal to own a leopard gecko in Alaska, it’s difficult to ship them due to the temperatures being too cold.
Where You’re Buying Your Gecko
Of course, one of the biggest factors will be where you’re sourcing your leopard gecko from. Species from a pet store will typically be much cheaper than if you went to a breeder. Indeed, reputable breeders will have extensive knowledge and can charge more.
However, by going to a reputable breeder, you can almost guarantee that you will get a good quality and healthy leopard gecko and receive all of the background history on your pet. This will include their health information and likely their family history.
Indeed, while pet stores can supply you with some information, they do not always have the knowledge for some things. For example, many leopard geckos in pet stores will be labeled as “fancy” because they are unsure exactly what morph they are.
As a result, they simply label the leopard gecko under a generally accepted “middle ground cost” name.
Age Of The Gecko
Younger leopard geckos are usually cheaper to buy than adults, especially if they are not mature enough to reproduce. Of course, these are not sought after by breeders as they currently cannot breed, but also because young geckos cost more to look after initially.
Final Thoughts
And that’s all you need to know about the costs of leopard geckos. However, you need to remember that it’s not just these costs – you also have to factor in the costs of the tank, their food and their light!
This is what inspired me to start The-Lizard-Lounge.com. I wanted to create a space that offers information about the care of various reptiles and lizards, to help those passionate about these animals learn how to care for them.
Join me, and learn all about these fascinating and fantastic creatures!
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