Leopard Geckos are fascinating creatures. This is because they are charming and attractive geckos. They also require very little attention from the owner.
However, before purchasing or adopting a leopard gecko, you need to understand the associated costs. The costs include the purchase of the gecko as well as the expenses associated with constructing the cage and caring for the leopard gecko.
Initial costs are always greater due to the enclosure. You will require several different items such as thermometers, digital timers, heat pads, heat lamps, and fluorescent bulbs. So how much does it cost to get a leopard Gecko?
The leopard gecko can cost anywhere from $35 to $1500 depending on the rarity of the breed. Though a regular leopard gecko usually costs no more than $50. Initial setup and meals would cost $250 to $450.
As you can see, there is a great deal to consider before spending money on your new pet reptile. Because of this, this article provides you with comprehensive information that will assist you in selecting the ideal leopard gecko as well as all of the necessary equipment.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Leo
Before purchasing a leopard gecko, you should ensure that you can provide for all of its requirements and that you are aware of what you are getting into.
The following are some of the most important factors to take into consideration:
- Lifespan: In captivity, leopard geckos can live for 10 to 12 years. If you want to buy one, you need to be sure that you can commit to anything for such a lengthy period.
- Cost of Maintenance: Leopard gecko substrate replacement costs $50 per month.
During the gecko’s lifetime, you will most likely require the purchase of two enclosures, which will add around one hundred dollars to your total cost.
If you decide to utilize UVB, you will have to change the bulbs every four months at an additional cost of about twenty dollars. If you desire the greatest of everything, you may anticipate spending around $400 every four months.
- Leopard geckos take time: Leopard gecko care requires time, even if you get a socialized leopard gecko.
You must continue to interact with your gecko if you want it to maintain its “friendly” behavior. You will also be responsible for performing some routine care each day.
Leopard Gecko Cost
Leopard geckos are widespread pet gecko that is commonly maintained as a pet. Because of this, it is not difficult to locate them. Because the coloration of these geckos is similar to that of a leopard, they are referred to as leopard geckos or, more commonly, leopard geckos. They are yellow with black spots as well as a white underside.
Several different leopard gecko morphs may be found. Morphs, such as the tangerine leopard gecko, are members of a species with an appearance (such as size and coloring) that differs from what is often observed in nature.
The common leopard gecko is not challenging to find and is relatively affordable. You shouldn’t have to pay more than $50 for one.
If you are interested in purchasing many leopard geckos, you should carefully evaluate whether you want to get male or female leopard geckos before making your purchase. Housing leos together often only works when there is one male for every two females or when only females live together.
Leopard Geckos Morphs
There are several different morphs available. Morphs are more costly. You should anticipate spending up to $450 for certain morphs (supergiants). However, the majority of morphs cost only a few dollars more.
The gigantic and supergiant species may reach a maximum length of 13.5 inches (33 cm). They are about twice as large as a typical Leo in most cases.
Albinos have the same appearance as ordinary leopard geckos, but their colors are more faded. In addition, there is an absence of the color black here. There are three varieties of albinos, which are referred to as Albino (Rainwater), Albino (Bell), and Albino (Temper).
Other common morphs include Snow, Tangerine, Black Night, Blizzard, Leucistic, Chocolate, Sunglow, High Color, and Pinstripe. Different popular morphs include Snow, Tangerine, Black Night, and Blizzard.
The following is a list of some of the more frequent morphs of the leopard gecko, as well as the price range for each.
| Morph | Price | Physical Appearance |
| Rainwater Albino | $300-$500 | These albino lizards have eyes that are noticeably darker compared to the eyes of other albinos. They’re tiny and cost $300-$500. |
| Tremper Albino | $75-$120 | This morph is another albino, although they are distinguished from others of their kind by having brownish markings and light-colored eyes. A standard Tremper albino may be purchased for about $75 and $120. Mixed morphs like Tremper sunglow and Giant Tremper cost over $250. |
| Eclipse | $70-$130 | Eclipse geckos are bred with a recessive gene that exclusively affects eye color, resulting in pure black eyes. An eclipse may often be purchased for between $70 and $130. |
| Fancy | $60-$70 | The fancy Leopard Gecko morph is not actually recognized. They typically cost between $60 to $70, which is slightly more than the going rate for regular geckos. |
Most Expensive Leopard Gecko
You may also find costly leopard geckos through breeders or reptile shows. Some rare Black Night Leopard Gecko morphs are sold for more than $1500, while others may cost up to $3500. Most costly leopard geckos are rare and have distinctive colors and patterns on their bodies.
It takes a lot of time and extra care to raise an adult leopard gecko, which is why they often have a higher price tag than the younger gecko. Experts say to buy your leopard gecko as a baby, and there’s a good reason for that.
Young geckos are inexpensive, so purchasing them can free up some of your money for use in other things around the house. They allow you to form a deep, enduring relationship with them from puppyhood to adulthood. Most importantly, you will be able to spend as much or as little time as you choose to interact with your pet reptile.
Cost of Owning a Leopard Gecko
Your reptilian friend will require not just a warm, comfortable environment but also food and a place to relax and sleep. However, the precise costs of maintaining a leopard gecko will likely alter with time.
Here’s a list of the essential elements to consider when buying a pet gecko.
Housing & Habitat
Your leopard gecko may be kept in a tank or cage. The cost of creating a pleasant environment for your pet reptiles to live in might change depending on the dimensions of the tank that you choose with. This shouldn’t worry you much since geckos aren’t very big.
As a consequence of this, they will require a tank or cage that is on the smaller and less expensive side to maintain their level of comfort. Because of this, you should search for a tank with a capacity ranging from 10 to 20 gallons to accommodate your needs.
A simple glass aquarium is often a good option for beginners. The aquarium price will range from fifty to one hundred dollars, depending on its size. Additionally, the aquarium’s cover may cost between $10 and $15.
Depending on their size and features, gecko lizard enclosures and cages can cost up to $200.
Fluorescent Light
This optional item depends on where your leopard gecko lives. Crepuscular animals, such as leopard geckos, are active throughout the early morning and late evening hours. Therefore, you must ensure that their light exposure enables their circadian rhythm (their body’s waking and sleep cycle) to work.
There is no requirement for extra illumination if your leopard gecko is housed in an area close to a window and receives an adequate amount of sunlight during the day. If less sunshine is available, you may need to supply them with additional light.
A UVB bulb can be purchased for around $20 and should last quite a while. Because leopard geckos shouldn’t have their eyes constantly exposed to light, you need to make sure that the light is turned off at night.
Digital Timers
This is yet an additional cost that is not absolutely necessary. A timer has been set up to turn the lights daily automatically. If you do not have a timer, you are responsible for turning the lights on and off at the appropriate times each day.
There are a variety of timers available. The BN-LINK 24-Hour Timer is widely considered to be among the very best available today. This will set you back about $15.
Thermometer / Hygrometer
In order to make sure that your leopard gecko is healthy, you must check its environmental factors. You’ll need a thermometer and hygrometer to check your gecko’s tank temperature and humidity.
This item’s average cost is around $25; however, it is well worth the investment. The temperature inside the enclosure where you keep your leopard gecko should gradually increase. This indicates that one side of their enclosure should be maintained at a temperature of around 72°F to 75°F, while the other side should be maintained at a temperature of approximately 92°F.
Regarding humidity, your gecko should always be kept at a level ranging from 20% to 40%, which is especially important during the shedding process.
Plants and Decorations
Plants and decorations, while not required, can significantly contribute to the enclosure’s overall beauty. Likewise, they provide hiding places for the gecko. There are several options available online. Vine-like structures, trunks, and plants all fall within this category.
The plants that are kept within the enclosure may be real or artificial. While real plants enhance the humidity level within the enclosure, they require more maintenance and care. You would also need to give the plant nourishment and water in addition to installing plant lighting. In general, artificial plants offer a more easy option.
Spending a significant amount of money on decorations and plants is not necessary. These accessories should be under $60.
Humid Hide
A humid hide is highly similar to a dry hide, with the primary distinction being that this hide must be maintained damp. Your gecko will find this setting a pleasant place to relax and, more importantly, to shed its skin. As a result of this, it is essential that you consistently offer your gecko a hide that is kept at an appropriate humidity level.
However, several excellent humid hides can be purchased for not much more than $20 each and offer leopard geckos a habitat that is both comfortable and humid.
Dry Hide
Geckos require hides to feel secure and comfortable in their habitat. It is suggested that you provide your leopard gecko with three hides, two of which should be dry.
You should position one dry hide in the cooler part of the tank and the second dry hide in the warmer part of the tank beneath the heat lamp. This makes for a more exciting environment for your gecko and gives them the freedom to feel safe in the temperature range that best suits them.
The dry hide of a gecko does not have to be crafted in a certain way, offering you a great deal of creative freedom. You can purchase a gecko dry hide or make one on your own with some rocks and materials.
You may make your gecko’s tank more intriguing and enjoyable to look at by being creative with the dry hides that you provide for them. You will pay no more than $30 for a leopard gecko hide.
Leopard Gecko Consumables Costs
Food & Diet
Feeding your leopard gecko is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that it develops into a healthy adult. Pet food is an ongoing expense as long as your pet lives.
This way, your leopard geckos will first eat live insects like crickets and mealworms. You may also vary their diet by providing them with freeze-dried insects, which you can get from pet stores or online.
Live feeder insects and free-dried meals lack two vital elements; thus, supplements are needed to balance the diet. The total amount you will spend on food for your leopard gecko each month will range from $5 to $10.
Supplements
Supplementation guarantees that the gecko will develop normally and maintain a healthy body. The biggest nutritional inadequacies among pet geckos are calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency. These deficiencies contribute to metabolic bone disease.
In addition to gut loading, sprinkle insects with nutritional supplements about once per week. Repashy Calcium Plus is an exceptional calcium supplement powder for leopard geckos. The price for a jar weighing 500 grams was around $26.
Sphagnum Moss
The enclosure in which your leopard gecko lives would benefit significantly from adding sphagnum moss. Because it can maintain its moisture for a more extended period than other types of moss, this moss requires less maintenance. In addition to that, it resists decomposition pretty well.
Sphagnum moss will be utilized most of the time within the damp hide that your gecko has, and it should be wet regularly.
If you discover that the moss is beginning to decompose, you must replace it with new moss. This component of your gecko’s enclosure is relatively inexpensive, costing approximately $10 each year so it will contribute very little to the overall cost of ownership.
Substrate
There is a wide variety of options available. Using paper towels or newspapers is the option that is both the easiest and the most cost-effective. All that is required of you is to change them out whenever they become dirty. The enclosure substrate should cost no more than $15.
Leopard Gecko Medical Costs
Parasite / Disease Meds
Leopard geckos, luckily, do not suffer from very high rates of parasites, mites, or other illnesses. If you are careful about what you put in your leopard gecko’s tank, it is unlikely that they will encounter any of these issues.
However, this does not indicate that they are protected in any way. Leopard geckos can get illnesses and mites from a variety of different sources. The mites might come through contaminated bedding. As a result, you want to maintain a vigilant check on your leopard gecko and respond appropriately if you become aware of an issue developing with it.
The appointment with the veterinarian, which can easily cost approximately $100, will be the most pricey component of this process. On the other hand, the cost of the drug itself might range anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred.
Vet & Medication
Your leopard gecko requires a first veterinarian checkup in addition to an annual checkup. In this regard, you may expect to spend at least $50 to have your leopard gecko examined.
In addition to another testing, the evaluation will include fecal analysis. Most of these tests are not essential if your leopard gecko does not require immediate medical attention. It is possible that the testing and treatment for an emergency will cost several hundred dollars.
Where Can I Buy a Leopard Gecko?
Local Breeders
A quick search for local breeders of exotic pets might provide numerous results. Any search engine will show you leopard gecko stores near you.
When purchasing a leopard gecko, it is in your best interest to do it straight from a pet store. You will have a lot of different options, the ability to ask questions, and a fantastic bargain. If you want to buy leopard geckos immediately, online stores are best.
Online
There are several online pet shops where you may acquire leopard geckos. You may have a leopard gecko in fewer than two days when you use the internet service since it gives you access to various morphs to pick from.