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The first thing you will need is a proper habitat set up. If you aren't the handy type, and thus need to purchase a cage rather than build it, you will be looking at around $100 for a 40Gal. breeder tank. Don't forget to grab a lid for about $15 while your at it. You can use newspaper for substrate, and even find your own rocks/logs for climbing/hiding to save some dough. If you have anything suitable around the house to use as food dishes, and a printer to create your own background picture, you can save yourself another 30-45 bucks. Last but not least, you will need a good digital thermometer/hygrometer with a probe. You can find one wherever(Wal-Mart $10) indoor/outdoor thermometers are sold.
Next you will need the proper lighting set-up. Top of the line UV bulbs are around $25-$30, and a fixture can be found at a hardware store for roughly $15. When it comes to the basking and heating bulbs, determining a price is tricky. Each set up will require different bulbs to reach proper temperatures within the habitat. However, basking bulbs can be found for under $10 and a cheap(but good) clamp fixture runs about $5 at a home depot. I also use a secondary household bulb($1), and fixture($5), to produce the extra heat needed.
Now we have an awesome enclosure situated and its time to pick which lucky lizard will call this place a home. The price of bearded dragons can differ greatly depending where you look, and what you are looking for. You can usually find your average pet store dragon for around 50-60 bucks. However, if you want to go all out and get a special color morph, you could be looking at prices as high as $200! For the sake of this article, we'll say your beardie will cost $75.
On to the never-ending food costs. I'm not going to attempt to put a price tag on your food bill due to the endless amount of variable involved, but I will try to put things into perspective. The amount of feeder insects and vegetables to fulfill the appetite of a dragon can get fairly expensive. So expensive that, in fact, many owners have turned to raising their own insects to cut costs. A young beardie can eat between 30-100 crickets a day. These crickets that can cost around $.10 each and they are the cheapest of all recommended insects. Add that too your veggie costs and it's like having an extra $100 utility bill to pay each month.
Food isn't the only thing you will continually fork over your hard earned dollars for. You will need food to "gut load" your insects, calcium and multi-vitamin supplements, regular vet check-ups, and to replace worn UV bulbs every 6-12 months. These are all "hidden" costs that most people don't take into consideration when they buy their first reptile(or any other pet). The pet will be forced to live in sub-standard conditions, or be shipped off to a shelter.
Before buying any pet you should first be aware of all the costs involved. Especially the recurring costs such as food and healthcare. It is our responsibility as pet owners to know that we are able to provide the best care for our creatures. With that said, if you follow the info provided in this article you will find that you can set up your habitat and buy your dragon for around $260. Remember that this DOES NOT INCLUDE food, vitamins, and vet bills. Now that you are aware of what you need, and the costs involved, Go out there and get yourself a beautiful new lizard!
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