We breed our own rats, so feeding the rats only costs about $260 bucks. Bedding, we use aspen, runs about $30. And, I have never calculated electric expenses, and don't think I want to know. Now start to add in other stuff, like phone bill, money associated with running a website, building/buying new racks to house snakes and rats, paypal and credit card charges, it all adds up after a while. But, I wouldn't give it up for anything, and believe it or not, I still love to go out and clean snakes eveery Sunday.