3 Pets that Cost Far More than You Expect

When I first started keeping rabbits, I thought that they sounded like the world' most remarkably afforable pet. I knew that they ate diet comprised mostly of timothy hay, cheap foods and occasional vegetables. How expensive can one bunny get? Unfortunately, rabbits might as well subsist on a diet of one-dollar bills. My first bunny's living expenses added up quickly, leading to some astronomical payments at the pet store.

Many pets cost their guardians far more than one might expect. Here are a few pets that can end up costing you a pretty penny, despite your expectations.

Rabbits

According to the ASPCA, your pet bunny will have an initial fee of about $150 beyond what you pay for the pet itself. This covers the cage, litterbox and carrier. A bunny's food also costs a minimum of about $125 per year, while treats and toys add an extra $25. The largest recurring expense is the $400 annually that you'll have to shell out for litter and bedding-- which can escalate to up to $2,000 yearly if you buy the good stuff and not the dusty, bulk products. Finally, if you want to have your rabbit spayed or neutered, don't expect the vet to do it for the same price that he'd charge for a dog or cat. Vets usually charge a minimum of $150-200 just for a simple neuter for rabbits. Before buying your bun-bun, make sure that you can adequately provide for it.

Small Rodents

Small rodents, including rats, mice, gerbils and hamsters, are presumably cheap because of their small size and simple living needs. While these fuzzy critters are certainly far cheaper than a cat, dog or rabbit, their living expenses add up. Food for a mouse, rat, hamster or gerbil will add up to at least $50-80 per year, while toys are another $30 annually. Litter and bedding material again weigh in as the priciest part of pet ownership-- totalling at least $200-300 annually. A small rodent's cage will likely cost about $40, and veterinary care totals to about $75 per year. While still reasonably affordable, these pets do cost more than many animal-guardians initially expect.

Fish 
I'm not going to claim that fish are secretly the most expensive pets in the world. But, if you're going to keep your pet fish in a proper, healthy environment, you'll have to surrender some big bucks. The minimum tank size for a beginning aquarist keeping goldish is approprimately 20 gallons. Between the aquarium, filter, gravel, decorations, tank stand and other accessories, expect a hefty upfront payment of at least $350. Food runs a modest $30 per year, and you'll expect to shell out about $50 extra in your power bill over the course of the year, to supply electricity to your lights and filtration systems.