Gargoyle geckos (Rhacodactylus auriculatus) make great beginner lizards.
However, you may be wondering:
How much does a Gargoyle Gecko cost?
Gargoyle geckos cost $100 and up for the animal, depending on the morph. The total cost of the enclosure setup will be around $350 once you buy all the supplies and food your gecko needs.
For a complete guide to enclosure setup, feeding, daily care and breeding,
check out my Gargoyle Gecko Care Sheet
Price of a Gargoyle Gecko
If you are happy to have a wild-type gecko with brown tones, you can find a gargoyle gecko for around $75 to $150 without counting shipping.
I highly suggest visiting a reptile show if there is one in your area since you can see the animals in person and save on shipping costs.
Most gargoyle geckos in this price range will have the basic striped or reticulated patterns without many desirable colors whether they are fired up or not.
They will typically have a brown to yellow base color. You will rarely see anything other than an unsexed hatchling at this price.
Rarer morphs that include unique colors and patterns will be more money. Older animals are also typically more expensive due to the time investment from the breeder.
Animals with orange in either their base tones or pattern color will go for around $200 if that is their only special trait.
Red stripes and super stripes start at around $250 and go up in price from there.
Animals with high white or black and white striping can also be found for around $200 if they are not a good example. Better examples go for around $300.
Blotched geckos are typically over $300.
If you add in factors like desirable colors or intense patterning, you will see a higher price. Super blotch can be over $500 with animals with significant orange going for $600.
Rare base colors like yellow will be over $450. High red animals can easily be over $700.
Adult geckos, the skeleton gene, and the phantom eye gene will be much more. It isn’t unusual for breeding adults to go for over $1000.
As you can see, the price of gargoyle geckos heavily depends on the morph of the gecko.
Desirable geckos that will be good for breeding projects go for much more than a pet quality gecko.
If you just want a good companion, you can easily take a cheaper gecko. If you are looking to breed, you will likely need to spend more to get a gecko that is already sexed or has good genes.
Cost of Supplies
If you want to own a pet, you need to consider the price of the supplies to care for it. Most caging for gargoyle geckos will be over $100.
While you can DIY an enclosure, the high humidity needs of gargoyle geckos mean you are more restricted in your materials than a desert species.
I recommend this enclosure for gargoyle geckos:
REPTI ZOO 18″ x 18″ x 24″ Front Opening Terrarium
- Tough screen top provides ventilation and allows uvb and infrared penetration
- Raised, waterproof bottom frame in order to fit a substrate heater or a bioactive substrate
- Front-opening doors make you feed your pet easily and prevent escape
Most substrate options are under $20 and one bag will keep your gecko on a fresh substrate for a month at least. DIY options with soil are even cheaper since you can buy in bulk and save.
If you go for a bioactive enclosure, it does cost more to make sure the soil will keep your beneficial insects healthy and allow for a breeding population.
You also need a dedicated thermometer and hygrometer.
You should always use a digital option and either uses one with dual readouts or one placed on each end of the thermal gradient.
You can use a reptile-branded option that will be around $20, or opt for an outdoor thermometer for each end for a bit less.
Light and heat can be taken care of with one dual light hood for around $40.
Then you just need a UVB bulb that gives 5% UV for around $30 and a 25w incandescent heat bulb that is typically under $20 for multiple bulbs.
Remember that you need to factor the UV bulb as a yearly cost since they need to be replaced at least once a year.
Geckos under 12 grams will need a slightly different light set up since the typical enclosure for a young gecko is too small for a dual bulb fixture.
Young geckos typically use a heat pad and thermostat that will be under $30.
Meeting the gecko’s needs for shelter is pretty easy with a good enclosure design. Bioactive enclosures need live plants that can add up.
You can buy fake plants meant for outdoor use for under $5 each or go with a reptile-branded option for more. You will need quite a few to provide both shelter and climbing and basking surfaces.
Cork rounds and branches are easy to find for under $20 and should form the basis of your design. You will also want to either make a feeding ledge or buy an option for under $20.
Feeding costs
Food will typically be under $15 for a bag of meal replacement powder.
Zoo Med Crested Gecko Food
- Can be served wet or dry to your scaly sidekick.
- Formulated using the latest nutritional information and techniques.
- May also be enjoyed by day geckos, gargoyle geckos and other omnivorous species.
- Contains probiotics for better digestion, stool consistency, weight management and development.
You should also use biodegradable gecko cups to offer food and water.
A pack of 100 tends to be under $15 from most sources. Feeder insects vary wildly depending on your source and choice of the feeder.
Crickets can easily be found for under $7 with enough feeders to last a gecko for months. If you cannot buy small amounts, you will need an enclosure to house your feeders until it is mealtime.
This is if you do not already have a feeder set up. Most kits for feeder insects are under $40 for all the supplies you need for months.
Other assorted costs for a first reptile will include basic supplies like a reptile first aid kit which you can stock for under $30.
You should also have a temperature gun (~$15), feeding tongs (~$10), a mister (~$10), and basic cleaning equipment. This is a one-time purchase since most of these will work for any future reptiles.
Exotic Vet costs
You should also plan for vet visits. There are plans for pet insurance for reptiles that can be around $10 a month. A basic vet visit is around $40-70 but this can depend on what tests you have done.
You should plan to take your pet in yearly for a check-up.
The exact price for everything tends to come out for around $350 or so, but you can get deals by looking for things like a used enclosure.
Only buy used if it is possible to completely sanitize what you buy to prevent transmitting diseases or parasites. Mites are very persistent and you do not want to risk them getting into your home.
Conclusion
We hope this has helped teach you what a gargoyle gecko costs. Most of the price is upfront for things like the enclosure and basic equipment.
Maintenance costs like substrate, food, and veterinary care are pretty low. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!
