Reservation Fee
£30Required to reserve an animal in your name during the adoption process.
APES Shelter & Rescue · Adoption Information
Adoption fees that support welfare, rehabilitation and responsible ownership.
Our adoption fees help cover the cost of caring for animals before they move into suitable, long-term homes. From the point of adoption, responsibility for the animal begins. Our fees and optional add-ons help adopters understand that animal ownership carries real care, welfare and financial responsibilities.
Admin Fee
£15Supports application processing, paperwork, checks and adoption administration.
Daily Care Cost
£5 to £25Approximate daily cost per animal while they are in APES care.
About our adoption fees
Adoption fees are set as minimum donations and help APES recover part of the cost of rehabilitation, veterinary care, feeding, housing and welfare support.
What is included with every adoption?
Every adoption includes core documentation and aftercare support to help the animal settle safely into their new home.
- Adoption Certificate
- Species Care Sheet
- Two-week Aftercare Check
Responsibility starts at adoption
Taking an animal home is the point where responsibility begins. The adopter becomes responsible for the animal’s ongoing housing, diet, heating, lighting, welfare, safety, veterinary needs and daily care.
This is why APES offers optional adoption add-ons. They are not just extras; they help teach responsible ownership from day one and make clear that keeping an animal has real ongoing costs.
How fees are calculated
Adoption costs are calculated using the animal’s species, size and the applicable administration fee. Some animals may have higher care costs due to health, rehabilitation or specialist welfare needs.
2025 adoption fees
APES uses a species and size-based fee structure for adoption-ready animals.
Snake adoption fees
| Size | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Snake Hognose, Garter Snake | £50 |
| Medium Snake Corn Snake, King Snake, Milk Snake | £75 |
| Large Snake Boa, Burmese Python, Anaconda | £100 |
Lizard adoption fees
| Size | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Lizard Rankin’s Dragon, Gecko | £50 |
| Medium Lizard Bearded Dragon, Water Dragon | £75 |
| Large Lizard Iguana, Monitor Lizard | £100 |
Small animals and birds
| Animal | Fee |
|---|---|
| Rats | £10 |
| Mice | £10 |
| Rabbits | £40 |
| Guinea Pigs | £30 |
| Standard Birds | £25 |
| Exotic Birds | £200 |
Invertebrates
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Spiderlings | £10 |
| Juvenile Spiders | £25 |
| Adult Spiders | £35 |
| Baby Scorpions | £10 |
| Juvenile Scorpions | £15 |
| Adult Scorpions | £25 |
| Small Tailless Whip Scorpions | £15 |
| Large Tailless Whip Scorpions | £25 |
Admin fee
A £15 administration fee applies to each adoption application.
Why the admin fee applies
The admin fee supports the work involved in processing applications, completing paperwork, reviewing information and carrying out appropriate checks before an animal is matched with an adopter.
This helps APES maintain a structured, responsible and welfare-led adoption process.
Optional adoption add-ons
Add-ons help adopters prepare properly and understand that caring for an animal includes ongoing costs, planning and responsibility from the point of adoption.
Neutering
£70Suitable for some animals, particularly where they may live with others. Neutering can also provide wider health and welfare benefits depending on the species and individual animal.
Adoption Treat Pack
£15A starter treat pack to help your adopted animal settle into their new home while reinforcing that ongoing food, enrichment and care form part of responsible ownership.
Microchipping
£10Recommended for rabbits and other suitable small animals to help identify and return them safely if they escape or become lost.
Why add-ons matter: adoption is not just the transfer of an animal. It is the start of a duty of care. Add-ons help adopters plan for real ownership costs and encourage responsible decisions before the animal leaves APES.
Useful adoption links
These links use the current APES Shelter & Rescue website paths.
Ready to adopt?
Before applying, review the animal’s profile carefully and make sure you can meet their long-term housing, diet, welfare, safety and handling requirements.
Need help from APES?
Contact APES Shelter & Rescue if you need support with adoption fees, the adoption process, available animals or adopter responsibilities.
About Our Fees
New 2025 Adoption Fees
We have changed our adoption fees for 2025. We have gone on a species and size basis for our adoption fees. Along with some new procedures.
Snake Adoption Fees
Small - £50
Medium - £75
Large - £100
Small Snakes - Hog Nose, Garter Snakes
Medium Snakes - Corn, Kings, Milks
Large Snakes - Boa, Berms, Anaconda
Lizard Adoption Fees
Small - £50
Medium - £75
Large - £100
Small Lizards - Rankin Dragons, Geckos
Medium Lizards - Bearded Dragons, Water Dragon
Large Lizards - Iguanas, Monitor Lizards
Small Animals Adoption Fees
Rats - £10
Mice - £10
Rabbits - £40
Guinea Pig - £30
Standard Birds - £25
Exotic Birds - £200
Inverts
Spiderlings - £10
Spiders Juvi - £25
Spiders - £35
Scorpions Baby - £10
Scorpions Juvi - £15
Scorpions Adult - £25
Tailless Whips Small - £15
Tailless Whips Large - £25
Admin Fee
At the Association of Protecting Exotic Species, we are dedicated to ensuring that each of our animals finds a safe and loving forever home. To maintain the highest standards in our adoption process, every application undergoes extensive paperwork and thorough background checks. These meticulous procedures help us match our animals with responsible and caring adopters. Consequently, we charge a modest £15 administrative fee for every adoption application. This fee supports our efforts in managing the adoption process efficiently and allows us to continue our mission of protecting and nurturing exotic species.
