Specialist supplier Monkfield Reptile has conducted a study to calculate the energy costs of running enclosures for four of the most commonly-kept reptiles.
The company measured kilowatt output and cost for enclosures for a corn snake, bearded dragon, leopard gecko and crested gecko over a two-week period in October 2022, using an industry average rate for electricity (28p per KW/h). The ambient temperature for the test room was set at 22C and monitored three times a day, with temperatures for each enclosure set to the correct level for the species.
After the test period was completed, the average daily cost was found to be 14p for the crested gecko, 19p for the leopard gecko, 28p for the corn snake and 37p for the bearded dragon. The data will be used to give retailers and potential new owners a better idea of the costs of keeping reptiles as pets.
Head of sales Jamie Blackstone said: “Monkfield Reptile are committed to sharing information to help reptile keepers and shops at this challenging time. With phase one completed, we are now investigating a broader range of species, so keep an eye out for the next update.”
Monkfield Reptile encompasses three leading brands – Monkfield Nutrition, HabiStat and Arcadia Reptile. The company supplies more than 1,000 products to independent pet shops, specialist outlets, retail chains, wholesalers, zoos and wildlife centres.
The full report can be found on the Monkfield Reptile website: https://www.monkfieldreptile.com/blog/the-energy-costs-of-running-reptile-enclosures
