How Much Does a Leopard Gecko Cost?

Leopard geckos are available in different colors commonly referred to as morphs. Apparently, morphs are geckos bred and raised for their color and patterns. You may consider looking at these morphs as designer lizards.

The standard leopard geckos or the wild ones are usually yellowish with black spots all over their bodies. In addition, the wild variety is the most common type of leopard geckos to find. This means the yellowing geckos are the most affordable as well.

Another common type of leopard geckos you are likely to come across include the hypo or hypomelanistic geckos which have fewer spots. The average cost of the above-named morphs is almost similar but other morphs are a little bit pricey.

Here are the most popular leopard gecko morphs that make great pet reptiles at home:

• Hypomelanistic(hypo)
• Normal(wild)
• High yellow
• Tangerine
• Super giant
• Blizzard

You may find normal or hypo leopard geckos sold under $50 while the high-yellow morphs going for less than $100. On average a leopard gecko costs between $40 and $1000 depending on the morph and where you buy it.

Most Expensive Leopard Gecko

You may also come across the most expensive leopard geckos from breeders or reptile shows.

According to Morph Market, some rare Black Night Leopard Gecko morphs are sold for over $1200, but there are morphs that can cost as much as $3000 each. The most expensive leopard geckos are also the rarest in addition to having unique colors and patterns on their bodies.

Adult leopard geckos have a lot of time and more care invested in them which is why they tend to be slightly costly. Experts recommend buying your leopard gecko as young as possible and for a good reason.

Young geckos are affordable, so they will save you some money for other projects at home. They also allow you to create a strong and everlasting bond from the young age to adult age with you or other pets around your home. Most importantly, you will have enough time to handle your reptile pet as much as you want.

The upfront cost of owning a leopard gecko is not the ultimate. The reason for saying this is that there are additional costs that come with keeping your gecko.

As such, you should ask yourself how much you are willing to spend on your pet gecko monthly or annually before you bring it home. Let’s look at the overall cost of keeping a leopard gecko in your home in the section below.

Cost of Owning a Leopard Gecko

Your reptile companion will require a place to rest and sleep as well as comfort and food. But the exact expenses to maintain a leopard gecko is likely to fluctuate from time to time.

Here is a quick rundown of the key factors to consider in terms of the cost when planning to bring home a pet gecko lizard.

Housing & Habitat

You may keep your leopard gecko in a tank or cage. The price of providing a comfortable habitat for your pet reptiles may vary according to the size of the enclosure or tank you choose. This fact should not worry you since geckos are relatively small in size.

As a result,  they will need a small and cheaper tank or cage to keep them comfortable. For this reason, you will probably look for a tank with a capacity range of between 10 gallons and 20 gallons.

A simple glass aquarium can also be a better option to start with. The aquarium will cost you from $50 to $100 depending on its size. On top of that, the lid to the aquarium may cost you between $10 and $15.

If you opt for enclosures and cages designed to host gecko lizards you may have to spend up to $200 depending on the features and size.

Other factors that determine the overall cost of providing habitat to your pet gecko include the accessories such as, a heater, substrate, or decorations. Light features and bulbs (the none UV models) will cost from $30 to $50.

On the other hand, the heat pads under the tank will act as the main source of heat and might cost you from $12 to $20. Thermometers for measuring the temperature in the cage will come at a cost of $5 to $10 while water and food bowls will go for $5 to $10 each.

Since your pet gecko will need some comfort, you may consider adding substrate in the form of a sand mat or reptile carpet at a cost of $12 to $15. Hides and decor will cost you at least $10 each.

Food & Diet

Food is an essential requirement for your pet leopard gecko to grow healthy and strong. Besides, food is one of the ongoing expenses that may not go away as long as your pet exists.

In this sense, your leopard geckos will start with feeding on live foods such as crickets and live mealworms. You may also alter their diet by introducing freeze-dried insects, which you can buy online or from pet stores.

To make your pet’s diet balanced and complete, you may have to provide it with vitamin D3 and calcium supplements. These two essential nutrients are not found in live feeder insects or free-dried foods, so supplements will come in handy to make the diet more nutritionally balanced.

Overall, your leopard gecko’s food will cost you from $5 to $10 a month.

Vet & Medication

Your leopard gecko will need an initial veterinary examination including the annual checkup. In this respect, you should expect to spend about $50 or more to have your pet gecko examined.

The examination will involve fecal tests among others. Most of the tests are not really necessary unless your leopard gecko needs emergency treatment. The cost of emergency testing and treatment may run into hundreds of dollars.

In summary:

• Annual veterinary checkup-$50
• Annual fecal examination-$30-$50
• Vaccinations-Not required
• Pest control and treatment-not applicable
• Occasional emergency expenses $200 or more

Wrap Up

The cost to raise and maintain your leopard gecko varies depending on several factors.

The most important factor is the type of leopard gecko of your choice which will determine the overall expenses.

Therefore, the average cost of owning a pet gecko comes to around $565.