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Leopard geckos have quickly become one of the most popular pet reptiles on the planet, and for good reason! They are hardy, friendly, cuddly, and curious, making them great pets for both novice reptile owners and experts. If you’re thinking of adopting one yourself, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “How much does a leopard gecko cost?”
Fortunately, while the initial investment in the gecko itself, enclosure and supplies is a bit expensive, the maintenance and care of a leopard gecko is very manageable and inexpensive. Follow me as I break down the costs of buying and owning a leopard gecko. I’ll pay the price for everything you need for your new friend, from fencing to tank decorations and even food.
Where can I buy leopard geckos?
As far as price goes, the first thing you need to consider is the actual cost of a leopard gecko. Compared to most other reptiles commonly kept as pets, leopard geckos are on the low end. However, the exact price you pay for a lizard varies widely, depending on where you buy it from, its genetics and morphology, and its age.
For example, if you buy a baby gecko from your local pet store, you may have to pay $20 to $40 A little more for the basic “wild-type” variant, and a little more for the more unique variants with different colors and patterns. However, buying from a pet store is notoriously risky, as their staff often don’t have the expertise or knowledge of how to care for these animals as dedicated reptile breeders.
If you’re considering buying a leopard gecko, it’s definitely worth finding a reputable reptile breeder. There are plenty of great breeders online who will safely ship reptiles directly to your door overnight! A knowledgeable reptile breeder can also tell you more details about gecko genetics, morphology, and the proper husbandry needed to care for them.
If You Buy a Leopard Gecko From a Breeder, You Can Pay Anywhere 20 dollars For the more basic wild-type variant up to $500 Or more very specific variants with unique patterns and vibrant colors. Some of the pricier varieties include the albino gecko, super giant gecko, McSnow gecko, lavender gecko, and blizzard gecko.There are even solid black geckos that live up to $3,000!
Other than their appearance, there are no real differences between the basic wild-type leopard gecko and the “exotic” variants. Choose what works best for your budget and preferences!
What do you need to buy for your leopard gecko?
Although they are fairly low-maintenance reptiles, leopard geckos still have specific care requirements that must be met in order to thrive. Ideally, you should fully set up the enclosure a few days before bringing the animal home. This will allow you to address any issues with lighting, humidity, etc. before bringing the gecko into its new home.
You will need to purchase the following items to properly house and care for your new pet:
- a fence. This should be your first purchase as a new gecko owner. While baby geckos can live comfortably in a 10 gallon tank, they will grow. The minimum pen size for an adult leopard gecko is a 20 gallon “long” pen. This means that the tank should be longer than it is wide or tall, since Leos are terrestrial and don’t need much room to climb.
- Wet leather and dry leather. The hide is simply a covered shelter to provide your gecko with a little privacy. You need one skin to stay moist and warm to help your gecko molt, while the other should stay dry.
- light. Every leopard gecko enclosure needs proper temperature and a gentle temperature gradient. A regular white basking bulb and a suitable sized fixture to hold the bulb is your best bet. UVB lighting is optional but recommended as it promotes healthy digestion as well as bone and muscle growth.
- Two dual thermometer/hygrometers. These are small gauges that monitor the temperature and humidity inside the enclosure. You’ll want one for the cool side of the tank and one for the basking area/warm side.
- matrix. This is the material you will use as the floor in your gecko enclosure. Avoid loose substrates with small, indigestible particles such as sand, as these can cause impaction. The safest and least expensive substrates are flat tile or stone, stick-on linoleum, paper towels, reptile sand mats, and reptile rugs.
- Food and water dishes. These should be shallow enough for geckos to enter comfortably. Avoid very porous dishes, as they can be difficult to clean and encourage bacterial growth.
- Ceramic heating element (optional). If nighttime temperatures in your home drop below about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need a ceramic heater. These fixtures generate heat but don’t emit light, so they won’t sting the gecko’s eyes at night.
How much does a Leopard Gecko case cost?
Now that you know what your gecko enclosure will cost, let’s take a look at the approximate cost of each of the above.
As I mentioned before, if you are adopting a leopard gecko, a fence should be your first purchase. A few days before you bring your gecko home, the fence should be fully equipped and set up. Your best bet is a glass tank with a screened top to allow for adequate ventilation.
If you’re adopting a baby leopard gecko, you have several options when it comes to fencing. You can buy a 10 gallon tank now to house geckos, but they will grow in 6 months. This will save you some money initially, but will cost you more in the long run.Most 10 gallon glass enclosures designed for leopard geckos cost approx. $50 to $80.
Your other option is to go ahead and buy enclosures above 20 gallons. This enclosure will house your gecko for its entire lifespan. Although they cost over 10 gallons, you’ll save more money in the long run since your gecko will need the extra space once it’s an adult.A typical 20 to 30 gallon “long” enclosure will cost you anywhere from $100 to $150.
Many brands, such as Exo-Terra, Zilla, and Zoo Med also have starter kits that contain many of the items you will need. These enclosure kits often include lighting, food and water trays, hides, additional tank decorations such as logs and artificial plants, and more.
These starter kits are a great choice for beginner reptile owners looking to save money and time!They are sold by pet stores and online retailers for approximately $100 to $200depending on the brand, size, and what they contain.
How Much Do Leopard Gecko Supplies Cost?
Once the enclosure is purchased, you can purchase additional supplies such as lighting, hides, substrates, and more! These items should also be purchased and set up a few days before you bring your gecko home.
Here’s how much you can pay for the various supplies you need for your gecko enclosure:
- wet and dry leather. There are a variety of hides suitable for leopard geckos, from burrows to hollowed out log and plastic hides.Depending on the type you choose, you can pay anywhere $5 to $15 per hide.
- light. A typical 60 to 75 watt white sunroom bulb costs approximately $7 to $12 each. You’ll also need to replace them every few months when they burn out.The dome fixtures that house these bulbs typically cost about $15 to $20 Each, unless they are damaged, do not need to be replaced.Expect to pay if you also include separate UVB lighting $15 to $20 For 5% to 10% output bulbs.These can be installed at a typical cost of approximately $15 to $20。 UVB bulbs only need to be replaced every 5 to 6 months.
- Dual thermometer/hygrometer. These usually cost approximately $5 to $10 each.They are also often sold in value packs of 2 to 4 for approx. $15 to $20. Remember that you need two enclosures to properly measure temperature and humidity at both ends of the tank.
- matrix. Prices for substrates vary widely, as there are many different options for leopard geckos.By far the cheapest option is paper towels as you can buy them in bulk for as little as $0.25 per roll. Other safe, easy-to-clean, and cost-effective options include reptile rugs, which cost approximately $15 per rolland linoleum-pasted “tiles” that cost as little as $30 Packs of 12 to 20 tiles.
- Food and water dishes. You need each one.These are also very cheap for about $2 to $5 per dish.
- Ceramic heating element (optional). Only need to do this if the temperature in your home at night is below about 68F to 70F.These are about the same price as sunbathing, or about $10 to $15 For a single 60 to 70 watt bulb. These can be installed in the same basic dome fixtures listed above.
All in all, expect to pay at least about $100 to $200 Decorative fence for geckos. Keep in mind that certain items will need to be replaced from time to time, such as base plates, heating lighting, UVB lighting and ceramic heat emitters.
How Much Does Leopard Gecko Food Cost?
Finally, after setting up your gecko enclosure, you need to make sure you have food ready for them. Thankfully, leopard geckos are strict insectivores, which means they are very cheap to keep.
Don’t simply feed your gecko any insects you find in your yard! Wild insects often carry parasites and diseases, as well as pesticides and other chemicals. You’ll need to buy reared insects from pet stores or online retailers who breed and sell them under controlled, sanitary conditions.
Ideal breeding insects for leopard geckos include crickets, mealworms, dubia cockroaches, super worms and wax worms.you can expect to pay $20-30 per month Food for geckos.
Additionally, your gecko needs calcium and D3 supplements for proper digestion and bone health. These are usually powder or liquid formulas that you can smear the rearing insects with before each gecko meal.A small container of calcium and vitamin D3 supplements typically costs about $5 to $7 and last for weeks to months.
Leopard Gecko Prices: The Total Cost of Owning a Leopard Gecko
All in all, you can expect to pay $300 to $400 For your gecko, its enclosure and all your furniture. Just keep in mind that this price jumps up considerably if you plan to buy the particularly rare Gecko variant. The initial investment is by far the most expensive part of caring for a leopard gecko.
When it comes to monthly maintenance costs, expect to pay approximately $20 to $50 per month On food and alternative lighting and substrates. However, this can also increase dramatically if you need to take your gecko to the vet because of an illness or certain health issues.You need to have veterinary funds on hand At least $500 or more Pay for any medical expenses for the gecko.
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Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.