I recieved theo, my chin approximately months ago. Cage cost one hundred, as well as food, about 10.00 per bag, timothy hay, another 10.00 and little extras each month, approx 10-15.00 per month. We have a vet fund, and bedding is 14.00 per month. So, adding in dust, its about 800 per year. Think about this before you go out and buy a cute little face, they are an expensive pet.
Costs of Pet Ownership
I thought this would be an interesting thread to start, and would also be useful for folks considering adding new pets to their household. Those who keep good economic records, or know reliable sources, can add species to the list. Folks will have a rough idea of how much of an economic investment a pet represents.
I'll start off with one I found recently, complied by a boa constrictor breeder:
The cost to keep a boa constrictor, which takes into consideration the cost of the animal itself, caging and environmental controls, bedding and food, is as follows:
$2400 roughly (or $4950) over 20 years or an average of $120/year or $10/month (or $248/year or $21/month).
Variables include possible vet costs, various other husbandry supplies, shipping for rodents, etc.
This figure would also be pretty accurate for other similar-sized constrictor snakes, such as rainbow boas, larger carpet pythons, etc.
So, before you consider bringing home a new pet boa, consider whether your budget has room for another ten to twenty dollars per month. (Obviously, a big chunk of that expense will be up front, in the form of the cage and equipment, and the animal itself, but monthly expenses begin immediately).
Another thing that you can do with figures like this, is save up the full amount in advance, and put it into savings. You can then draw on it over the years, and have some confidence that you'll never be left without a means to care for your animal if times get rough.
I'll start off with one I found recently, complied by a boa constrictor breeder:
The cost to keep a boa constrictor, which takes into consideration the cost of the animal itself, caging and environmental controls, bedding and food, is as follows:
$2400 roughly (or $4950) over 20 years or an average of $120/year or $10/month (or $248/year or $21/month).
Variables include possible vet costs, various other husbandry supplies, shipping for rodents, etc.
This figure would also be pretty accurate for other similar-sized constrictor snakes, such as rainbow boas, larger carpet pythons, etc.
So, before you consider bringing home a new pet boa, consider whether your budget has room for another ten to twenty dollars per month. (Obviously, a big chunk of that expense will be up front, in the form of the cage and equipment, and the animal itself, but monthly expenses begin immediately).
Another thing that you can do with figures like this, is save up the full amount in advance, and put it into savings. You can then draw on it over the years, and have some confidence that you'll never be left without a means to care for your animal if times get rough.
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Pets definitely are MUCH more expensive than most people initially realize. There are a few ways to save some money though: Ordering online is usually much cheaper than pet stores. I get a lot of my cages and supplies used, and to save money on food I breed my own reptile feeders and buy hay by the bale.
I try not to keep track of how much I spend on my pets.
Helps me keep my sanity a teeny bit.
I try not to keep track of how much I spend on my pets.
Helps me keep my sanity a teeny bit. I probably spend around $40 a month on my dog. less now that i borrow toys from work and take them back later. But if i had to i could spend 30 every 3 months just for food as he has 100's of toys now and doesn't need so many treats...... but he is spoiled!
The true cost of dog ownership, of course, is higher than that, and would include the cost of the dog itself, shots, annual vet visits, heartworm meds and flea and tick control, kennels and other housing, etc.I probably spend around $40 a month on my dog. less now that i borrow toys from work and take them back later.
If anyone's done the math on all of that, I'd be curious to see the real total!
Yes but you can spend $0-15,000 on a dog. Shots are about 70 a year here. heart worm and flea and tick control is 20 a month maybe. I don't count the crate either because you can spend 0 on not having one, borrowing someones, thrift stores, to 150-200 on a large on at a pet store. so you spend between $90-15,290 on a dog.
So, I guess the above works out to about $38 per month for a shelter dog, or $456 per year, over the course of maybe a 12 year lifespan, for a total of $5472 for the life of the dog. Any additional veterinary expenses would be added on to that. If I've forgotten anything, let me know. (I don't own a dog, after all).
(I figured on a $50 adoption fee for a shelter dog).
(I figured on a $50 adoption fee for a shelter dog).
The first year of my dogs life, I spent exactly $3,436.00 on him. That included everything he needed his first year of life, medical bills, supplies, food, toys, the cost of buying him from a reputable breeder, etc. I actually kept a spread sheet his first year of life and recorded how much I spent every time we spent money on him. That was without any major medical issues, but a few minor ones and his neuter and preventative care.
I've never kept track like that for any of my other pets, and stopped keeping track on how much I spent on the dog after we had him for exactly a year. But yeah, I spend a loooot of money on my pets.
I've never kept track like that for any of my other pets, and stopped keeping track on how much I spent on the dog after we had him for exactly a year. But yeah, I spend a loooot of money on my pets.
I keep my vet invoices but never count up what I spend on them. Partly because the gross "cost" of them is scary upfront and I'm just a student so my loan simply doesn't allow that kind of up front and secondly, and most importantly, money doesn't make or break the bonds I share with my little friends.
Unconditional love is priceless.
Sure--but proper care costs money.
Absolutely. But there are a lot of factors at hand in owning a pet. While I couldn't even give you an estimate on how much my dog cost me over the years I can be assured that the bond shared was more intense than someone who perhaps has a couple thousand dollars and pampers their pooch just because they can.
I don't have a set amount that i spend on my guinea pig. The amount that i spend depends on what he needs. the same goes for any other animal that i might own.
That's commendable, but the purpose of determining how much pet ownership costs, is to allow people to decide whether they can afford a pet BEFORE they actually get it. That way, folks don't find themselves in over their head, in terms of expenses, and the animals get the proper care they need.
Funny this should come up, as I had a conversation about just this the other day.Variables include possible vet costs,
The chap I was speaking to had incurred a $1200 veterinary bill for his savannah monitor due to an injured and subsequently infected tail....just before x-mas.
Reptiles rarely require veterinary care, but when they do, it is never inexpensive.
Health insurance is not generally available for reptiles.
My suggestion to owners/potential owners is to squirrel away $20 every week, or every paycheque into an 'emergency vet fund' jar. Even if you have only $200 saved when something happens, it can seriously soften the blow of a potentially crippling bill, and may save you the pain of having no option beyond euthanasia.
This formula works well for ferrets, also....another pet with spendy vet bills and that is difficult to obtain insurance for.
Well...I have to disagree with that a bit. I would say that usually, when reptiles require Vet care, it's not horribly expensive. The truth is, if he had taken the monitor the vet as soon as the tail was injured, it probably would not have cost him more than $80 total. The vet would have been able to treat it and provide antibiotics to prevent the infection.
People tend to run into very high vet bills with reptiles by not taking them in as soon as they notice a symptom or injury.
Most problems that reptiles have will be related to minor infections, parasites, or injuries, which, if caught early, might run as high as $120, but certainly not up to $1200.
Sure, there are exceptions, but reptiles are a hearty lot, and short of major illnesses like dystocia, bowel obstruction, or cancer, they tend not to rack up high vet bills.
With ANY pet, waiting to visit the vet not only prolongs the animal's suffering, it exponentially affects the expense, and makes a bad outcome FAR more likely.
That having been said--the Vet Bill Jar is a fantastic idea, and should prevent the situation where a person feels they have to wait to visit the vet, because they don't have the money on hand for it. That can be disastrous for the pet and for the owner's wallet.
People tend to run into very high vet bills with reptiles by not taking them in as soon as they notice a symptom or injury.
Most problems that reptiles have will be related to minor infections, parasites, or injuries, which, if caught early, might run as high as $120, but certainly not up to $1200.
Sure, there are exceptions, but reptiles are a hearty lot, and short of major illnesses like dystocia, bowel obstruction, or cancer, they tend not to rack up high vet bills.
With ANY pet, waiting to visit the vet not only prolongs the animal's suffering, it exponentially affects the expense, and makes a bad outcome FAR more likely.
That having been said--the Vet Bill Jar is a fantastic idea, and should prevent the situation where a person feels they have to wait to visit the vet, because they don't have the money on hand for it. That can be disastrous for the pet and for the owner's wallet.
By 'vet care', I am referring to when a vet is actually required, as opposed to something that can be done with some betadine and polysporin, though.Well...I have to disagree with that a bit. I would say that usually, when reptiles require Vet care, it's not horribly expensive.
In the past 20 years, I have been on one or the other side of many hundreds of thousands of dollars of herp vet bills, and when herps actually need a vet, that vast majority of cases run $200+. Now that may not be very much to you or I, but for many reptile owners, even $250 can be pretty harsh.
heh...after listening to his story, he could have gotten away with $10 in first aid supplies. It horrifies me how many people do not actually look at their reptiles often.The truth is, if he had taken the monitor the vet as soon as the tail was injured, it probably would not have cost him more than $80 total. The vet would have been able to treat it and provide antibiotics to prevent the infection.
But, unfortunately, when a vet-necessary illness occurs, bowel obstruction is far too common, as are serious infections (usually caused by dirty enclosures/water. These and major injuries make up the majority of what most vets see, outside of malnutrition and MBD.Sure, there are exceptions, but reptiles are a hearty lot, and short of major illnesses like dystocia, bowel obstruction, or cancer, they tend not to rack up high vet bills.
Well, I am a ball python breeder, and of course the occasional animal comes down with an RI, or turns up with pinworm in quarantine, or something. I've never had a vet bill over $200. Most have been around $120 with meds. Exams range from $40 to $60.
I'm sure I will eventually, but in 5 years, I've not had any expensive issues come up.
Virtually everything you listed can be avoided, including bowel obstruction.
I generally like to assume that people will be responsible keepers, and will care for their animals properly. I make sure the folks who buy my animals have good care sheets, and know they can ask me if they have any questions.
Naturally, if a person doesn't do their research, and doesn't take proper care of an animal, expenses will go through the roof.
As a reptile rescue worker, I'm sure you see all of the worst of it...all of the avoidable problems, at a stage where they become life threatening. It has to be quite sad.
I do hope that you don't allow it to make you bitter...most pet owners are responsible, even if some are not.
I'm sure I will eventually, but in 5 years, I've not had any expensive issues come up.
Virtually everything you listed can be avoided, including bowel obstruction.
I generally like to assume that people will be responsible keepers, and will care for their animals properly. I make sure the folks who buy my animals have good care sheets, and know they can ask me if they have any questions.
Naturally, if a person doesn't do their research, and doesn't take proper care of an animal, expenses will go through the roof.
As a reptile rescue worker, I'm sure you see all of the worst of it...all of the avoidable problems, at a stage where they become life threatening. It has to be quite sad.
I do hope that you don't allow it to make you bitter...most pet owners are responsible, even if some are not.
Although I founded the rescue almost 20 years ago, and have seen a lot through it since then, I have also been a herpetoculturalist for almost 40 years, a zoologist for 20, been on the boards of various reptile and zoological organisations for just over 20, and worked in and out of the retail/wholesale industry for nearly 35...I have seen almost everything. Bitter? Sometimes. Its difficult to not be some days. Fortunately, the amount of information that people have access to is much greater than it used to be, even if people are less responsible in general.As a reptile rescue worker, I'm sure you see all of the worst of it...all of the avoidable problems, at a stage where they become life threatening. It has to be quite sad.
I do hope that you don't allow it to make you bitter...most pet owners are responsible, even if some are not.
I have to agree with that. (Kidz these days..? lol..)
Sometimes it seems like you have to grab them by the neck and shove their nose in the information in order to get them to actually learn it.
I think that's a general problem in society, more than a specifically pet-related one, though.
In terms of knowledge, things just keep getting better. Now we just have to get that knowledge in front of the general populace. The Lacey Act business has lit a fire under a lot of tails, and there's a huge amount of energy in the reptile community right now. It's heading in the direction of coming together, and promoting education. It could make a big difference, it has that potential.
I've got some ideas, myself, that I'm working on.
Sometimes it seems like you have to grab them by the neck and shove their nose in the information in order to get them to actually learn it.
I think that's a general problem in society, more than a specifically pet-related one, though.
In terms of knowledge, things just keep getting better. Now we just have to get that knowledge in front of the general populace. The Lacey Act business has lit a fire under a lot of tails, and there's a huge amount of energy in the reptile community right now. It's heading in the direction of coming together, and promoting education. It could make a big difference, it has that potential.
I've got some ideas, myself, that I'm working on.
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