Before you adopt a pet snake, you’ll probably have plenty of questions about how much a snake costs to own. From the price of the snake itself to its food, enclosure, and other care requirements, this guide will cover everything you need to know as far as whether or not a pet snake is within your budget.
Many factors can affect how expensive a snake and its upkeep are, from the snake’s species to its size, diet, and humidity needs.
Read on to learn more about how much you can expect to pay for the initial investment of bringing a snake home and setting up its enclosure as well as how much it costs to care for one over the course of its life.
The Cost of the Actual Snake
Snakes are relatively cheap depending on the species and morph you get. You can get a snake like a ball python or corn snake for as little as $15! However, you can also spend over $3,000 on a snake that is rare or has a particular morph that is rare and difficult to breed!
The two main factors that can affect how much a snake costs are its species and morph.
Species
Common and easy-to-breed species such as corn snakes, kingsnakes, basic ball pythons, garter snakes, and brown snakes will only set you back a maximum of $15 to $80.
However, more exotic species, such as rough green snakes, Brazilian rainbow boas, hognose snakes, and rosy boas will cost more because they are either more difficult to breed, have smaller clutches, or are more difficult to keep alive.
Morphs
As soon as you start looking at getting a specific morph, the price of your snake will shoot up exponentially. A regular ball python may set you back $40, but a desirable morph such as the blue-eyed leucistic ball python can cost over $1,500!
If you desire a rare snake or one with a unique color or pattern, expect to pay a bit more. Compare prices of breeders to find the best value, but don’t simply go for the cheapest one; instead, find a good balance of price and reputability.
Tips for Buying Your Snake
When you’re looking to buy a snake, there are a few tips you can keep in mind to find the healthiest pet at the best possible price.
First, avoid pet shops. The big, chain pet stores do not take good care of their snakes, as they tend to focus on profitability, and they will often bump up their prices and try to sell you unnecessary items. They are also not experts in snake husbandry, and so they usually cannot advise you properly on your purchase like an experienced breeder would.
Next, look for a reputable breeder either locally or online! Their prices will often be cheaper than those of most pet stores, and they offer expert care advice with your purchase. Snakes can easily and quickly be shipped to their new owners, so do not be afraid of this option. Always make sure that the breeder has a live arrival policy!
Another great way to buy your snake is by going to reptile expos! Reptile expos are a conglomeration of reptile enthusiasts who are always looking out for the best interests of their animals. Purchasing your snake from an expo means you are surrounded by experts!
The Initial Cost of the Setup
Most of the setup costs are one-time deals because they should last your snake its entire lifetime. However, the enclosure itself will need to be resized twice during your snake’s lifetime as they grow into their adult size. The rest of the items can be accommodated in bigger enclosures.
Enclosure
The enclosure itself is a big purchase. Your hatchling or baby snake can comfortably be kept in a shoebox-sized, Rubbermaid-type container until it reaches its juvenile stage. Once your snake has reached its juvenile stage, it should be moved to a larger container.
Juveniles can also be kept in a display enclosure; however, this will be an extra expense. Once your snake has reached its adult size, then you can move it to a permanent display enclosure. Enclosures can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on the size, quality, and make.
Heat
You will need an under-tank heating pad or a ceramic heat emitter to provide your snake with warmth and create a gentle, gradual thermal gradient in their enclosure. These can cost anywhere from to . If they do not have a built in thermostat, they will need to be attached to one; these average at $20.
Heat lamps used to create basking spots will also need to be purchased. These can range from $5 to $20 depending on their size and wattage. Be sure to look up the temperature requirements for your snake’s species, as most species have slightly different needs.
Light
Next up is a lighting mount if your enclosure does not come with one. There are many variations of these and you need to choose one that will fit in with your enclosure and snake’s needs the best. These mounts range between $10 and $100.
UVB lights will also need to be purchased depending on if your snake needs UVB lighting. These light bulbs can be anywhere from $10 to $50 depending on their size and wattage. It is advisable to buy a combined UVB/heat lamp to save on cost.
Humidity
Depending on the species of snake you have, you may need a misting system. A species like the rosy boa will not need heavy humidity, and you can manually mist the enclosure. However, species like the emerald tree boa need humidity of 70% to 80% and will need a misting system installed.
These misting systems can range from $40 to $200. Again, the exact price and the type of misting system you need will come down to the size and the various requirements of your specific snake’s enclosure.
You will need a
These items last a long time and may not need to be replaced for the duration of your snake’s life if they are not an especially long-living species.
Substrate
The substrate you end up using will be a personal choice depending on what is best for your snake. Some substrates maintain humidity better than others. The cheapest substrate options would be paper towels, newspaper, and butcher’s paper. These are cheap, but they are not the nicest looking.
Coconut bark and coir, aspen shavings, and mossy substrates are all good for snakes depending on their species. These substrates can cost anywhere from $15 to $40 to fill your enclosure.
You can also use reptile carpets or liners as substrates. These cut the difference between the cheap and more expensive option at around $10, and they are washable and reusable.
All substrates will need to be replaced or cleaned from time to time as they get dirty to keep the enclosure clean and free of harmful bacteria.
Decorations and Accessories
Setting up the enclosure with all of the decorations is a fun process, but choose wisely so you do not need to repurchase these items every few months. You will need a
Water dishes can be cheap or expensive. Make sure they are nonporous and will not tip over and affect the humidity in the enclosure. These can cost anywhere from $5 to $50 depending on the size and type.
Hides are essential. You can use hollowed-out logs and stones from your garden, provided you have cleaned and treated them correctly. However, you can purchase basic hides for as little as $5 and more elaborate ones for as much as $100. Remember, as your snake grows, they will need larger hides.
The Cost of Enclosure Upkeep
You are going to spend between $300 to $800 a year on enclosure upkeep. Items like lighting, heating elements, and substrate all need to be replaced at different intervals.
Lighting
You will need to replace the light bulbs in the enclosure as they wear out. This is especially true of UVB bulbs because, depending on the species, your snake will get sick and die without UVB light. UVB bulbs will generally need to be replaced every three to six months.
You also need to think about the cost of the electricity it will take to run the lights for 12 hours a day.
Heating Elements
Heating elements also eventually burn out. Cheap elements may burn out every couple of months, and more expensive ones may take up to a year or two to burn out. However, they will all need to be replaced eventually. The same goes for heat lamps.
You also need to think about the cost of electricity by running all of the heating elements 24 hours a day! Many reptile owners don’t factor this into their costs early on until they are eventually shocked at the suddenly increased cost of their electric bill.
Substrate
If you are using loose substrate for your snake such as coconut coir or aspen shavings, you will need to continuously top up the substrate as you remove old and dirty substrate. The enclosure liners are a good option here, even though they do not look as nice or natural.
Enclosure liners like reptile carpet can be washed many times before new ones need to be purchased. There are many good choices of substrate; choose the one that both looks best to you and maintains the proper humidity level your snake needs to thrive.
Other Snake Upkeep Costs
Health is an important thing to consider when you are keeping a reptile. Snakes cannot bark or meow, scratch at the door, or tell you when they are feeling ill. It is up to you as their owner to look for more subtle clues such as a change in their poop color, weight loss, and excess mucus to know when to take them to the vet.
Your snake should go for a routine annual check up, which may cost anywhere between $40 and $200 depending on your vet. Unfortunately, most ‘normal’ vets will not treat snakes, especially if you have a rare species, so you will need to find an exotic vet. Keep in mind that exotic vets generally cost more than vets that treat dogs and cats.
Snakes can get sick or carry parasites. They are also very susceptible to obesity and respiratory infections as well as mouth and scale rot, and all of these conditions will require additional vet trips as well as medication or treatment plans. You should budget an average of $150 per year for your snake’s health plan.
The Cost of Food
Many snakes can go weeks, months, and even a full year without eating! However, that does not mean you should keep your snake on a minimal food diet, because this is very unhealthy and will put strain on their organs and shorten their lifespan.
The cost of food can vary greatly from state to state and even town to town! The cost of food will also differ greatly depending on the type of food and amount of food your snake eats. You should budget between $150 and $400 per year for your snake’s food depending on the snake’s size and species.
Pinky mice and rats are meant for growing snakes. They are cheap and readily available almost anywhere. However, as your snake grows, so does their appetite. Fully grown mice and rats will generally be more expensive. Some smaller snakes will also eat insects.
Your best bet for reliable and affordable food for your snake is to find an online seller of frozen pinky mice and rats. You can also buy in bulk and keep the food stored safely at home. Pet shops will inflate prices of food, so try to avoid buying from them if you want a better value.
FAQs About the Cost of Pet Snakes
Can I adopt a snake for free?
Most animal rescue centers do not have snakes up for adoption. However, there are often people on various online social media platforms looking to rehome their snakes because they are moving or they can no longer afford to keep their snake.
Make sure you take any adopted snake straight to the vet for a full check-up to see if there are any additional things you need to include in their care such as a parasite treatment or extra soaking time to help with a stuck shed.
What is the best budget snake?
There are no real ‘budget snakes’ because all species of snakes require lifelong expenses that go above and beyond the normal food and vet bills. They require constant heat, lighting, and humidity, as well as additional supplies added to their enclosure.
However, if you are looking for a snake that is ‘cheaper’ to own, then one with basic care requirements such as a corn snake or a California kingsnake is the way to go. Also, stick to a snake that is going to stay small and not need a large enclosure or lots of food.
How do I save money while taking care of my snake?
Take care of them properly. Use quality products that are not going to fail quickly, keep them healthy and happy, and keep their enclosure clean so you won’t drive up their vet bills.
Slithering Off…
The real cost of owning a snake comes from its upkeep. You cannot name an exact price when asked the question: how much do snakes cost?
This is because all snakes have different husbandry requirements. Some need small 30 gallon enclosures, while others need custom-built enclosures with a pool! Some need a couple of small mice every month, and others need to be fed a suckling pig!
Always do your research before purchasing your snake. Make sure you can budget during the year for their upkeep and continued care for their entire lives, which can be as long as 30 years depending on their species!
The costs mentioned here are averages and estimations based on the current prices of the items at the time of writing. Keep your research up-to-date while you care for your slithery friend!
