How Much Does a Leopard Gecko Cost? (Setup + Ongoing)
| Gecko (common morph) | ~$20–50 |
| Gecko (rare/designer morph) | $100–300+ |
| Initial full setup | ~$150–400 |
| Ongoing monthly | ~$15–30 |
The gecko itself
Normal or common morphs are typically inexpensive; rarer or complex designer morph combinations can run considerably higher, sometimes into the hundreds of dollars. Price alone doesn't indicate health — buying from a reputable breeder matters more than chasing the cheapest listing.
One-time setup costs
A proper enclosure, thermostat, heat source, thermometer/hygrometer, hides, water dish, substrate, and basic decor typically add up to somewhere in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars for a genuinely correct starting setup — cutting corners here (skipping the thermostat especially) is a false economy.
Ongoing monthly costs
Feeder insects, calcium and D3 supplements, occasional substrate top-ups or replacement, and the electricity to run heating (and UVB lighting, if used) typically land somewhere in the $15–30 a month range for a single adult gecko.
Budget for vet care
Reptile-experienced vets aren't always cheap, and problems like impaction, MBD, or infection can mean an unplanned bill. Setting aside an emergency fund, or looking into exotic pet insurance, is worth factoring into the real cost of ownership.
See the full care guides guide, or browse all 593 info pages.
A single adult leopard gecko needs a 20-gallon long tank as an absolute minimum, with a 36x18 in (40-gallon breeder) footprint now considered the recommended standard — plus a secure lid, an under-tank heater on a thermostat, a thermal gradient, at least three hides, and a shallow water dish.
Set up in this order: substrate, then heat source wired through a thermostat, then hides and water dish, then decor — and run the whole enclosure for at least 24–48 hours to confirm stable temperatures before your gecko moves in.
Hatchlings can start in a 10-gallon tank or tub, juveniles do well in 20 gallons, and adults need a 20-gallon long as an absolute minimum — with 36x18 in (40-gallon breeder) now the widely recommended standard, not just an upgrade.
Heat a leopard gecko enclosure with an under-tank heater and/or overhead heat source (halogen or deep heat projector) wired through a thermostat — a thermostat is mandatory, not optional, and heat rocks should never be used.
Leopard geckos can survive without UVB using dietary D3 supplementation, but current husbandry guidance now recommends low-level UVB (roughly 2–6% T5) as best practice — it improves D3 synthesis, bone density, and natural behavior, and views on it have shifted significantly from older nocturnal-species advice.
Keep ambient humidity around 30–40% across most of the enclosure, with a dedicated humid hide raised to roughly 70–80% to support smooth, complete sheds.