How Much Does a Pet Lizard Cost?

Compared to the costs of keeping a dog or a cat, that of owning a pet lizard is peanuts. Although lizards are one of the most varied animal species ranging from the tiny gecko to the mighty monitor lizard, as a whole, they’re relatively inexpensive pets. The exact amount one might expect to pay for a lizard will be determined by a few key factors: the precise species and its morph, its size, its diet, and its care requirements. It’s important to note that the majority of the costs of keeping a pet lizard are related to getting started. On a month-to-month basis, lizards are pretty inexpensive and could cost as little as $15 a month for upkeep.

Factor #1: Lizard Species & Morph

Naturally, the more elusive and rare a species, the more expensive it will be to purchase. The good news is that the most popular species are bred in abundance, which makes them widely available and inexpensive. Things get a bit trickier, however, when morphs are involved. Morphs are the variations of an animal’s colors or patterns that differ from the norm. As is the case with a lizard’s species, the rarer the morph, the higher the price even a commonplace species could be. 

A bearded dragon that might cost $100, could cost upwards of $300 depending on its color. A leopard gecko, which could be as little as $60 might end up costing over $3,000 if the morph is rare enough. 

Factor #2: Size

The bigger the animal, the larger and more expensive an enclosure it will need. While this isn’t a regular purchase a lizard owner would be expected to make, underestimating the size of your lizard once it’s fully grown would necessitate the eventual purchase of a larger tank. The rule of thumb of how big a lizard’s tank should be is that it is at least three times longer than its full length and about two times as wide.  

Factor #3: Diet

Most lizards are omnivores. Although this technically means that they can eat pretty much everything, the majority of omnivorous lizard diets consist of insects (cheap) and fresh produce (cheap). In comparison to snakes whose diet primarily consists of rodents for $2 a pop once a week, a $10 container of mealworms or crickets could feed a pet lizard for days. Things can get pricey if you have a carnivorous pet lizard on your hands, such as Caiman lizards or monitor lizards. However, since the amount a reptile eats is directly proportional to its size, a small carnivorous lizard might still not cost more than a few dollars a week to feed.

Factor #4: Care Requirements

The simpler a lizard’s care needs, the less equipment you’ll need to buy. Daytime active lizards (those that are diurnal or crepuscular) can get a lot of their necessary vitamins through sunlight, and typically require special ultraviolet lighting. Lizards native to tropical areas will require higher levels of humidity in the air and apparatuses to track it since too much humidity can be dangerous. 

Many of the lizards that are recommended for beginners are also very cost-effective because they only need the most basic of care. Bearded dragons are great if you’re looking for an affordable pet lizard. Find a bearded dragon for sale at a great price at online specialty reptile stores like XYZReptiles.com.