Cost of Keeping a Leopard Gecko

[theCREECH]

Hi,
As you can see from the number of posts next to my name, I just joined. I've been trolling the site for a long time now just never wanted to post. But now that I know I want a leopard gecko again.... I wondered about some things that I couldn't find anywhere on the site.

I currently own 2 Bearded dragons and they are doing really well. But I want more, unfortunately they eat a ton of crickets. Like 1500 per month.

So here's my question: Leopard geckos seem to cost significantly less to take care of, is this true???

Aside from the start of cost of a quality house, lighting, hide, calcium powder, and other amenities. It seems they only eat about 100 crickets a month?? or so each?

I would love to get into this, and I used to have one, but it passed away. Please some one be really honest and tell me streight up what each gecko might cost per month.

thanks

 

[T-ReXx]

Care and expense of a leopard gecko is less than that of a bearded dragon. For one, leopard geckos are smaller, less active animals that will eat maybe 10 prey items per sitting, 3 times a week for an adult. And that's on the heavy side. They are nocturnal, and when properly supplemented do not require UVB lighting. With any animal, you have to budget for the original cage, substrate, heat pad, thermostat, hides, dishes, supplements and prey. After that, continuing expenses include substrate(if you use a replaceable one like paper towels) insects, and supplements. You also want to have a fund set aside in case the animal needs to see a vet at some point(this is an expense many reptile owners seem to "forget" about until the animal is sick). But yes, in reality the care a leopard gecko is much less intensive than that of a beardie.

 

[Jordan]

im currently getting a beardie house set up, and its cost me so far about 3 times as much as that of my leo's housing. And this is before ive even bougth the beardie lol.

 

[acpart]

You asked about monthly costs after the initial outlay for caging etc. Here's an estimate for an adult leo: 5 large crickets, three times a week for 5 weeks (a month has about 4 1/2 weeks on average) at .11 a cricket from the petstore is $8.25 a month. Of course it will be a lot cheaper if you're already getting bulk crickets for your beardie. I find crickets to be about 5x more expensive by the piece at the petstore than in bulk by mail, but then there are the ones that die. In addition you would need supplementation but that could be listed as start-up cost. Leopard geckos are fairly healthy, but there is the need as mentioned above to be prepared for a vet visit. I hope that's helpful.

Aliza

 

[Brewboy74]

Wowser, I am going to have to put my RERS on a diet.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

You may be able to also order superworms or mealworms from your cricket source, saving some shipping cost on multiple items. Worms have a longer life cycle than crickets and are cleaner all around. Beardies love the worms as well. It could add up to a significant saving on feeders by adding another item for your crew.

 

[tastyworms]

You may be able to also order superworms or mealworms from your cricket source, saving some shipping cost on multiple items. Worms have a longer life cycle than crickets and are cleaner all around. Beardies love the worms as well. It could add up to a significant saving on feeders by adding another item for your crew.

Good point. You can keep superworms alive about a year if you're lucky, but they do cost some money to feed. Mealworms about 3 months in the fridge. Whereas adult crickets only live about 3 weeks.

Although I think crickets would probably work out to be cheaper in the long run, since you can just add a few hundred more to your order... Crickets normally get shipped in special boxes, and you can't add worms to it directly.

 

[T-ReXx]

personally, if I were feeding two hungry beardies, I'd start a dubia colony.

 

[gixxer3420]

Dragons love greens and should be fed greens more than live.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Good point. You can keep superworms alive about a year if you're lucky, but they do cost some money to feed. Mealworms about 3 months in the fridge. Whereas adult crickets only live about 3 weeks.

Although I think crickets would probably work out to be cheaper in the long run, since you can just add a few hundred more to your order... Crickets normally get shipped in special boxes, and you can't add worms to it directly.

When I've gotten multiple boxes of feeders it has been the same shipping charge whether its 1000 crickets or 1000 mealworms or 1000 superworms or any combination of. They strap the boxes together.

 

[theCREECH]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I figured it would be about that. One thing is for sure. It would cost a lot less to house a few geckos than it does to house few dragons.

Right now with the dragons I got, I give them salad everyday and I'm also ordering about 1000 crickets every couple of weeks. They are still juvies so they are growing fast and eating a ton. It will slow down a little was grown.

 

[Insubordinate]

personally, if I were feeding two hungry beardies, I'd start a dubia colony.

That's where it's at! Two beardies (and possibly more reptiles) would start to get expensive to feed. You could lower the cost significantly by raising a dubia/meal worms. Definitely worth the small amount of time and effort!

 

[tastyworms]

When I've gotten multiple boxes of feeders it has been the same shipping charge whether its 1000 crickets or 1000 mealworms or 1000 superworms or any combination of. They strap the boxes together.

Honestly, it depends on whether the weight, or dimensions of the packaging change enough to throw it into the next shipping bracket. Strapping packages together does not make them free .

 

[acpart]

This is why I will always have only 1 beardie and it will always be an adult (I also only have room in my house for 1 big tank).

Aliza