How Much Does a Penguin Cost?

Last Updated on January 4, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

With their adorable tuxedo-like appearance and fun, quirky personalities, it's easy to see why penguins capture the hearts of so many animal lovers. You may have found yourself wondering - can I actually own a penguin as a pet? What would it cost?

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the realities of owning a penguin, including permit requirements, habitat setup costs, food, medical care, and more. You'll get an in-depth look at penguin pricing so you can determine if owning these aquatic birds is feasible for your budget and lifestyle.

Key Takeaways on Penguin Pet Pricing:

• Acquiring a penguin legally starts around $5,000 - $25,000 (≈9.5 months of continuous work at a $15/hour wage).
• Habitat construction and setup expenses are $10,000+ (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary) minimum.
• Food, medical care, and other supplies add thousands per year.
• Total costs easily exceed $75,000+ (≈2.4 years spent earning $15/hour instead of living) over the first 5 years of ownership.

Owning a penguin requires ample space, construction skills, and significant dedication to their specialized care.

How Much Does a Penguin Cost?

Unless you live near Antarctica, simply heading out and capturing a penguin in the wild is clearly not an option. So how do you legally adopt a penguin?

The average cost of a penguin is somewhere between $5,000 and $25,000 (≈9.5 months of continuous work at a $15/hour wage), depending on factors like the breeding, the age and breed of the bird, and your location, according to classified ads you can find online. Penguins aren't solitary birds, so you will probably need to get at least two, if not more, for them to have a healthy, happy life. 

Here are the main ways to acquire a penguin in the U.S.:

• Adoption from zoos or aquariums – Some facilities with breeding programs occasionally have penguins in need of adoption. Prices range from $5,000-$25,000 (≈9.5 months of continuous work at a $15/hour wage).
• Purchase from licensed exotic animal breeders – A limited number of specialist breeders sell penguins starting around $10,000 (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary).
• Import with permit – USDA allows some penguin importation with proper permits, quarantine, and fees averaging $5,000-$10,000 (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary) just for paperwork.

As you can see, actually acquiring a penguin starts at around $5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour) at minimum between purchase costs and licensing requirements. And competition is stiff - only a handful of breeders worldwide work with pet penguins due to tight regulations. Let’s look at other major costs next.

Habitat Setup - Expect to Invest $10,000+ (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary)

Habitat setup is where penguin ownership costs really start to add up. Consider:

• Indoor/outdoor housing – Penguin habitats are enclosed, climate-controlled indoor areas attached to a large outdoor space starting at 200 sq ft minimum.
• Saltwater pool – A 900+ gallon saltwater pool kept in the 60s F is required for swimming and preening feathers. Pool filtration systems start around $5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour) installed.
• Climate control – To keep a penguin, you will also have to get heating and cooling equipment to maintain air temperatures in the 40s to low 70s F range from $3,000-$5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour).
• Substrate and landscaping – Pebbles, vegetation, hiding spots, and landscaping for terrestrial areas cost $500-$2,000 (≈3.3 weeks trading your time for $15/hour).
• Cleaning supplies – Disinfectants, hoses, scrub brushes, and other cleaning gear run $500 (≈4.2 days of your career at $15/hour) or more.

Just the minimum recommended habitat setup for one penguin can easily top $10,000+ (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary) between construction, pools, HVAC, landscaping, and cleaning supplies. And costs multiply quickly for additional birds.

Feeding Your Penguin - Estimate $2,500+ (≈4.2 weeks of employment at a $15/hour wage) Annually

Feeding pet penguins is another massive expense compared to owning a dog or cat. Most species eat 2-3 pounds of fish daily, requiring:

• Daily fish purchases – Buying sardines, herring, capelin, and other fish in bulk averages $5-$10 per pound.
• Annual fish costs – With 2-3 lbs fed daily, expect around $2,500 (≈4.2 weeks of employment at a $15/hour wage) per year minimum just for one penguin’s needed supply of fish.
• Frozen storage – A large freezer for storing fish runs $500-$1,500 (≈2.5 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour).
• Supplements – Penguins need supplemental vitamins and minerals adding $250 (≈2.1 days working for this purchase at $15/hour) or more to annual food costs.

As you can see, keeping your penguin well fed isn't really cheap either. Your average penguin will eat food worth around $3,000 (≈1.1 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour) per year. Having to purchase, store, and manage hundreds of pounds of frozen fish each year is not for the faint of heart.

Overview of Penguins as Pets

There are 18 different species of penguin, ranging from the Giant Emperor Penguins and King Penguins of Antarctica to the tiny Little Blues of Australia and New Zealand. While depictions in movies and TV make penguins seem like cute, cuddly companions, the reality of caring for real penguins is much more complex.

Here are some important facts on pet penguins:

• Penguins are social animals that live in large colonies and require interaction with other penguins to thrive. Solitary penguins often become depressed or stressed.
• They are extremely messy birds adapted for life in the water. Their enclosures require round-the-clock filtration and cleaning.
• Most species eat fish exclusively, requiring purchasing and storing large quantities of fresh seafood.
• Temperature and climate control are critical to prevent overheating and illness.
• Penguin ownership involves substantial costs and dedication compared to other exotic pets.

While their personalities and beauty may seem appealing, penguins require expertise and diligent care to stay healthy in captivity. Next, let’s look at the costs involved with becoming a penguin owner.

Medical Care - Finding an Exotic Bird Vet

Like any pet, penguins need regular veterinary checkups and healthcare averaging $200-$500 (≈4.2 days of your career at $15/hour) per visit including:

• Annual exams & bloodwork
• Medications and antibiotics
• Diagnostic tests for issues like arthritis or foot sores
• Emergency surgeries or injury treatment

The trick is actually finding an exotic bird vet with penguin experience. This often requires booking appointments months in advance or having a vet travel to you starting at $1,000 (≈1.7 weeks working every single day at $15/hour) or more per visit. Budgeting $2,000-$5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour) annually for medical care is recommended.

You might also like our articles about the cost of a pet bat, finger monkey, or jumping spider.

Penguin Fun

As intelligent, social animals, penguins require daily enrichment and engagement. This may involve:

• Toys and puzzles to manipulate and solve ($50-$200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour))
• Training treats like fresh fish ($100 (≈6.7 hours of continuous work at a $15/hour job) per year or more)
• Interaction time outside the habitat under supervision (free)
• Adding new objects and rearranging habitat frequently (free)

Having an enrichment plan helps prevent boredom and neurotic behaviors in solitary penguins. Allow $250-$500 (≈4.2 days of your career at $15/hour) for annual toy replacement and food treats.

Penguin Price Summary

Total estimated 5-year cost per penguin: $75,000+

Clearly, owning a penguin requires major dedication, construction work, and significant financial resources. For some avid exotic pet lovers, the joy of owning one of these unique aquatic birds outweighs the challenges. But penguin ownership is certainly not for everyone.

Owning a penguin

Most penguin species are currently illegal to purchase or have as pets all around the US, as they are considered endangered species. More information on the specific species to watch out for and the legalities around owning a penguin can be found on the official USDA.gov website.

As there are fewer and fewer penguins in the world, buying a penguin should be your last option and you should consider adopting one instead, through adoption programs available at local zoos.

Final Words

We hope this guide provides realistic insight into what's truly involved - both financially and otherwise - with owning penguins as pets.

While penguins may seem cute and approachable in TV shows and movies, caring for real penguins properly takes immense commitment. Please consider if you have the resources and dedication before embarking on penguin ownership.