When money is tight you need to find economical resources to fulfill your pets needs without providing a lower quality of care. Luckily there are several options for all exotic pet owners to keep their pets happy and healthy without putting a hole in your wallet. Here are a few ways to save money on your exotic pet. Cheap exotic pet supplies don't have to be poor in quality!
Visit Shows, Expos, and Conventions
Photo © Flickr user snakecollector
Reptile owners are going to benefit the most from shows, expos, and conventions, but reptile shows aren't the only kind of pet show out there. General pet expos also have products and food sources available for many species of animals, you may just have to look a bit harder to find a product for an exotic.
Reptile shows offer crickets, pinkies, fuzzies, worms, and other food for your reptile or amphibian, as well as supplies, at a significantly discounted price when you compare it to a pet store. There are typically low admission fees at reptile shows, but even after including that in your total cost of food it is less than a pet shop would charge.
Buy From Hay Farms
Photo © Flickr user soylentgreen23
Hay farms offer bulk hay, such as the timothy and alfalfa varieties, fresh from the field.
Online research can help you find a local hay farm. They are most commonly resourced by horse owners, but the farms should be able to offer you a smaller amount of hay to use for your rabbit, guinea pig, or other hay happy pet.
Get Regular Check-Ups
Regular check-ups with your exotic pet veterinarian can help prevent an expensive emergency from occuring with your pet. Taking your pet to the vet regularly may not sound like a way to save money, but if you can catch an illness at the very beginning of the disease process, or prevent it by providing proper healthcare, you will be less likely to spend your money on emergency fees and more aggressive treatments.
Compare Prices Online
Try shopping online for your pet's needs, or at least compare prices using the internet before just going to the pet store down the street to buy supplies.
Websites listing coupons, store sale seeking sites, and price comparing pages offer a selection of products available for sale online or in a nearby store, and are sometimes far less than buying where you regularly do. A little shopping around can save you a lot of money!
Order Bulk Live Food
Photo © Flickr user .Larry Page
If you feed your exotic pet live, or freshly frozen prey items, you should take advantage of companies who sell in bulk.
Crickets, worms, mice, rats, and other foods commonly fed to reptiles and amphibians can be bought in large quantities and gut-loaded or kept frozen until feeding time. A simple plastic critter container can house crickets with a food and water source, and different types of worms can be refrigerated until they are needed for food.
Grow Your Own Vegetables
Photo © Flickr user Hair Squared
During the warm months it is easy to make a small garden, even a container garden outside for your veggie eating pet. Many lettuce-like plants are quite simple to grow, and a large container or pot can be used and placed anywhere outside if you have a lack of ground to plant in.
Too cold to grow vegetables outside? Try planting an indoor garden using grow lights.
Make Your Own Pet Toys
Photo © Flickr user urbanwoodswalker
Many things you probably throw away or toss into the recycling bin can be used by your pets as toys, houses, or things to chew on. Try making use of your trash by making toys for your rat, things for your rabbit, or fun for another pet.
Tissue boxes are great houses for hamsters, degus, gerbils, sugar gliders, or even a small gecko. Cut out a larger hole if needed. Paper towel and toilet paper roll tubes are also great for small rodents to hide in and keep them busy while they shred them, or get creative and make hammocks using fabric and supplies from the fabric store.
Raise Your Own Mealworms or Crickets
Raising your own food for your reptile or amphibian can be very simple if you follow the right steps. Research the process to save yourself some serious cash and have a colony of mealworms or crickets in no time at all!
