Kristy_07
Very Well-Known Member
Hey, so I was just thinking to myself about the money side of herps...
I know I worked out once that my dogs were costing me around $1250 a year (I think) to keep, each. So I thought I'd ask what people are spending to keep their herps happy and healthy. I think it will be interesting to see the differences between those who buy frozen food & crix from the shop, versus those that breed mice/rats/insects. Let's just start with the cost of the perishables... food, substrate, etc.
So maybe if you could less us know how many critters you've got (even list the cost by species or something if it's easier), how much food you go through per month, and how much that how much that food costs you (this is where it will get a bit tricky for those of you breeding food items, so maybe include the monthly upkeep cost of the food set-up you have. sound okay?). Let's pretend it's summer, when feeding is generally most frequent.
Then, I reckon throw in a couple of vet trips, just in case. Plus what you think you'd spend on substrate, filter cartridges, and anything else perishable. And then average it out for the year.
I think, if you know your electricity costs, it would be great to see that separate from the food issue - what heat do you run, how much does it cost you.
I think this could be a really good exercise, if people can be bothered getting out their calculators We could come up with a rough guide of maintenance costs of animals per year, which would be helpful to newbies thinking of buying an animal "that they don't have to feed that much", helpful to those of us wanting to expand our collection but unsure of how much we can afford to expand, and maybe help some of us realise how much we are spending on the pets and should consider downsizing!
Sound okay?
I know I worked out once that my dogs were costing me around $1250 a year (I think) to keep, each. So I thought I'd ask what people are spending to keep their herps happy and healthy. I think it will be interesting to see the differences between those who buy frozen food & crix from the shop, versus those that breed mice/rats/insects. Let's just start with the cost of the perishables... food, substrate, etc.
So maybe if you could less us know how many critters you've got (even list the cost by species or something if it's easier), how much food you go through per month, and how much that how much that food costs you (this is where it will get a bit tricky for those of you breeding food items, so maybe include the monthly upkeep cost of the food set-up you have. sound okay?). Let's pretend it's summer, when feeding is generally most frequent.
Then, I reckon throw in a couple of vet trips, just in case. Plus what you think you'd spend on substrate, filter cartridges, and anything else perishable. And then average it out for the year.
I think, if you know your electricity costs, it would be great to see that separate from the food issue - what heat do you run, how much does it cost you.
I think this could be a really good exercise, if people can be bothered getting out their calculators We could come up with a rough guide of maintenance costs of animals per year, which would be helpful to newbies thinking of buying an animal "that they don't have to feed that much", helpful to those of us wanting to expand our collection but unsure of how much we can afford to expand, and maybe help some of us realise how much we are spending on the pets and should consider downsizing!
Sound okay?