Bearded dragons are naturally suited to living in hot arid conditions in natural environments. When you own a bearded dragon as a pet, some arrangements are needed for better care and health of the bearded dragon.
Given the unique nature of the beardie, it can be quite involved when you go down the rabbit hole of providing for a reptile that is not native to your country and its weather. This is the guide to help you navigate all the masses of information and curate and simplify what the bearded dragon needs in their tank and what they should arrange for your new bearded dragon.
We are here to help you provide the step by step guide on how to build natural habitat for bearded dragons at home and what is safe or not safe for a bearded dragon habitat. Continue reading
Step by step guide to building an ideal habitat for a bearded dragon
Bearded dragons are mainly found in the hot deserts of Australia. Consider the needs of the bearded dragon habitat, heat, light, humidity, and feeding needs. First, you need to arrange an enclosure or tank for your newcomer-bearded dragon.
Bearded Dragon tank set up.
An enclosure or tank is a container where your bearded dragon will spend most of his time in your captivity. The enclosure’s habitat should be comfortable and look like a wild habitat.
Everything you consider should be for the happiness of your pet before you consider the aesthetic appeal to your home. You can understand more about if your dragon is settled and happy by understanding its body langauge!
You should consider the following points while building an ideal bearded dragon enclosure:
Enclosure Size
What size of tank you need for a bearded dragon depends on the age, size, and number of bearded dragons you’ll keep in one tank.
The size of a bearded dragon determines the size of the enclosure. Young and juveniles need lesser floor space while adult beardies need more floor space. That’s why it’s essential to build a tank according to the size and age of the bearded dragon.
The best size enclosure for beardie is 40-50 gallons, as it covers a lot of bases and adults larger than 16 inches long need a more spacious enclosure.
Minimum enclosure size for bearded dragon
| Bearded Dragon Size | Aquarium Size |
|---|---|
| Baby (less than 10 inches) | 20 gallons |
| Juvenile (10 to 15 inches) | 40-50 gallons |
| Adult (over 16 inches) | 75 gallons |
Bearded dragon babies grow faster, and adult bearded dragons reach 16-24 inches long at 18 months. It’s better to buy a 40-gallon capacity tank at the start to avoid rebuying when your beardie becomes an adult.
Proper tank size prevents stress and creates ease for a new bearded dragon to become familiar with its habitat.
Can I keep two bearded dragons together in one tank?
Never keep two or more two bearded dragons in the same tank. It is recommended to keep one bearded dragon per enclosure. More than one bearded dragon can lead to insufficient living space in the tank, which creates stress for both bearded dragons.
- Two or more two bearded dragons in one tank can be dangerous because there are more chances of injuries due to fighting.
- Never keep two males in one tank. Males bearded dragons are more aggressive and can fight and kill each other.
- Similarly, when you keep two females in one enclosure, larger or stronger females will take over the food of weaker or smaller females. They can also fight in the basking area to sit under the light.
- You can never introduce a younger one to an older one, full explanation here.
You can keep males and females in one tank only during reproduction. Strict observation and vast space are required in a bearded dragon tank.
Size of the enclosure for two bearded dragon
Each bearded dragon needs a 40-50 gallons enclosure for itself. If you house two bearded dragons in one tank, you need 130-150 gallon capacity double tank space.
Material of bearded dragon tank
There are plenty of enclosures made with different materials like Glass, plastic wood, etc. Some owners feel nervous about choosing the bearded dragon tank.
We have shared complete details of enclosure materials for a bearded dragon and their advantages and disadvantages.
If you cannot build a tank at home, you can also buy bearded dragon enclosures online and from any pet store.
Glass-made bearded dragon enclosure.
Glass is a popular material for bearded dragon tanks. Glass is widely accepted because of its firmness, easy availability, and opaqueness. Glass-made bearded dragon enclosure contains a lid that allows better airflow and humidity control.
It’s better to buy a front-opening Glass terrarium for better cleaning and easy access for a bearded dragon to move in and out of the terrarium.
A glass vivarium is not a good insulator of heat, and you need to constantly check the inside enclosure temperature on winter or cold days.
Glass wood enclosure
People living in cold areas prefer to choose a glass wood-made enclosure. one side of the tank is built with Glass and the rest with wood. Wood acts as a better insulator of heat, and bearded dragons feel comfortable in a wood-made vivarium.
Plastic or PVC made enclosure.
PVC is another enclosure material for bearded dragons. It’s lightweight, and you can get vivarium in different colors. Other advantages of PVC-made tanks are corrosion-free and long-lasting. The downside of this enclosure is poor airflow. Frequently check the humidity level when using a PVC enclosure for your bearded dragon.
You can also find tanks made of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) which is thermoplastic polymer resin and is very turdy and resilient. These are often a more affordable price, and especially useful when you have a baby bearded dragon that you will need to rehouse later in its life.
Where can you place the bearded dragon tank?
Where should I keep my bearded dragon enclosure at home? You can place a bearded dragon enclosure at a place with minimum interaction of kids.
- Ensure there is no interaction with already housed pets like dogs and cats. Slowly introduce your bearded dragon to other pets’ families in the home. Sudden interaction of the dog and beardie will result in some adverse event or accident. Mainly, it will be more dangerous for the bearded dragon because of its smaller size.
- Keep bearded enclosure away from noises because it will create stress and behavior issues. You want to be sure to be able to give absolute peace of mind and ensure a life of enjoyment for your lil buddy.
- Place your enclosure in an area you can easily access for proper monitoring, feeding, and cleaning of the vivarium.
- Bearded dragons like to sleep at night. Keep the bearded dragon tank in a place with darkness at night and light during the day.
Determine how much area you need for a bearded dragon tank
If you are keeping the first-time enclosure for the bearded, you should know about the floor space for the habitat before the arrival of the vivarium and bearded dragon. A 40 gallons enclosure size is 36 inches in length, 18 inches in width, and 18 inches deep. Take measurements in advance. You need a rigid plain surface to place the terrarium. Site selection before the arrival of a bearded dragon will prevent your wastage of time, effort, and stress for the bearded dragon.
When you have selected a vivarium, it’s time to design its interior, you need different essentials in a tank-like substrate, lighting, humidity, etc.
What Bearded Dragon needs in their tank
Here is the list of items you need to build an ideal set-up for the bearded dragon tank
- Substrate or flooring or bedding material
- Heating system
- Lightning
- Humidity
- Light and heat automation devices like thermometers, hygrometers, and power centers.
- Water dishes
- Live insects for feeding
- Basking rock or log
- Things to hide
Bedding for bearded dragon tank
Flooring is another critical element that gives a comfortable home feeling to a bearded dragon in his enclosure.
Plenty of flooring materials are available, but you need to select what is safe and comfortable bedding for your bearded dragon.
We have shared the pros and cons of different substrate use. These points will help find a suitable substrate for the bearded dragon tank.
Best and easily available substrates for bearded dragons
1. Reptile carpets
Reptile carpets are best as bedding material in a bearded dragon tank. Reptile carpets are cheap and easily clean. These carpets are designed to prevent foul odor in the enclosure. You can buy these carpets from an online store or vet shop. You should keep one extra reptile carpet for baby beardies because they urinate more than adults.
2. Sand mat
Sand mat gives a natural desert-like environment and minimal bacterial load for bearded dragons. The texture of the sand mat gives beardie a firm grip on a substrate. The sand mat can’t be accidentally digested, giving a sense of safety and comfort. However, keep an eye on old dislodged parts of mats because they can cause impaction after ignition.
3. Newspaper
Newspaper or paper towels are the ideal and cheapest substrate for bearded dragons. Newspaper is readily available and safer because it is non-toxic. If your bearded dragon accidentally ingests a small amount, there is no need to worry. Newspaper substrate is best for baby beardies because they do more pee and poop. You can easily replace this substrate with minimum effort for cleaning the tank.
4. Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles are also a good choice as a substrate for bearded dragons. Ceramic and slate tiles provide good traction for bearded dragons and act as eco-friendly habitats. You can easily clean these tiles. Don’t use slippery tiles (vinyl or linoleum) because they will create disturbance in movement.
If you have a Glass-made enclosure, carefully place panel tiles in the tank to avoid its breakage. It’s better to use a newspaper or towel between tiles and Glass.
5. Paving stones
Large rocks and stones are suitable substrates for the bearded dragon enclosure. Larger stones also serve as a place for beardie basking. You can buy paving stones from any pet store.
6. Rubber shelf liner
A thin rubber layer is a good bedding material in a bearded dragon tank. Rubber shelf liners are cheaper, durable, and easy to clean in a bearded dragon enclosure.
Rubber shelf liners don’t change the humidity level and easily fit in the enclosure. There are lower chances of impaction in bearded dragons because rubber liners are more durable than newspaper.
A few shortcomings associated with Rubber liners are
- Rubber liners don’t look natural
- Rubber liners are not recommended for babies because they get cracked under high basking heat and light.
7. Alfalfa pallets
Alfalfa pellets are suitable substrates and can be easily replaced. Alfalfa is a cheaper, loose, and non-toxic substrate. Bearded dragons are omnivores, and there are few impaction chances when they ingest alfalfa in smaller amounts.
Wood chips or bark
Wood chips are another suitable substrate because they are easy to clean and inexpensive. There are chances of impaction and other issues with wood chips: they hold moisture and increase humidity in a bearded dragon tank. It is essential to note the enclosure’s humidity when using wood chips.
The substrate to avoid in bearded dragon enclosure
Different substrates seem normal, but they are not recommended for various reasons. Here is the list of a substrate to avoid for bearded dragon enclosure.
Sand
Dragon keepers most commonly use sand as tank substrate. Sand is very dangerous for bearded dragons. When a bearded dragon inhales sand, it causes severe gut impaction .on the other hand, sand can stick in beardie eyes and cause eye irritation.
Wood chips or bark
Wood chips can also be used as substrate in a bearded dragon tank. Wood chips or bark are not recommended as a substrate because there are chances of impaction. They hold moisture and increase humidity in a bearded dragon tank. It is essential to note the enclosure’s humidity when using wood chips.
Other materials not recommended as substrates are crushed walnuts, soil, play sand, and hay.
The primary concern for using a poor substrate is as follows.
- Gut impaction after ingestion of substrate.
- High bacterial load in a wet substrate.
- Live insects can hide in a loose substrate.
- A bearded dragon can face the issue of toxicity after ingestion of a toxic substrate.
Live insects can hide in a loose substrate as feed sources for bearded dragons during mealtime. These insects bite bearded dragons. In deep, loose substrate, insects hide and even die beneath the substrate. The death of insects can cause bad smells and poisoning in an enclosure. That’s why feed live insects in the separately designed area to avoid feed wastage and foul odor.
It’s better to sterilize or clean substrate before adding in the enclosure and clean substrate daily to avoid microbial growth.
The substrate should be replaced or deep cleaned after every two weeks. It’s better to remove the reptile carpet and wash it with soap or hot water.
Spray cleaning is a better way to clean permanent bedding like ceramic tiles. You can use soap, mild bleach, and water to clean the bearded dragon tank. It’s better to remove bearded dragons from the enclosure before cleaning. The substrate as well as the enclosure should be completely dry and soap-free before returning your bearded dragon to the vivarium.
Lightning
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded animals. Beardies cannot regulate their body heat and depend on external heat sources for thermal regulation. During basking in desserts, dragons receive heat and ultraviolet light from the sun. Bearded dragons need artificial light sources for heat and light to regulate their daily activity.
UVB lamp
Bearded dragon needs 100 Watts UVB lamp is enough for lightning in bearded dragon. Bearded dragon needs UVA And UVB light sources for proper metabolism and calcium absorption in the enclosure.
Bearded dragon lightning schedule
The bearded dragon’s lighting schedule is the same as the basking schedule. Bearded dragons sit on logs or rocks for basking in the morning for 10-12 hours under UVB light. You need to turn off the lighting at night or after sun sight.
A bearded dragon can go without UVB for two days. In the absence of UVB, a bearded dragon will face a vitamin D deficiency, which helps in calcium absorption in bones. Poor heat and lightning can cause metabolic disease in bearded dragons. The metabolic bone disease will deteriorate bones and leads to paralysis if untreated.
Basking light/heat lamp
Basking light or heating temperature helps the bearded dragon regulate its day and night cycle, and it also helps in the digestion of food and stimulation of appetite.
Daytime Temperature and light:
In a 40-gallon capacity enclosure,100 watts Halogen floodlight is ideal for raising the temperature in an enclosure to 100-105°F. At least one area of the tank should be cooler than others. It will allow the bearded dragon to regulate its body temperature.
Bearded dragons need basking florescent heat bulbs for 12 to 14 hrs a day during spring and summer and 8-10 hours during fall and winter.
You can use a heating pad and incandescent bulbs to heat the bearded dragon enclosure.
Night Time Temperature and lightning
At night bearded dragons don’t need a temperature gradient for basking. At night the entire tank temperature should be 65-65°F inside the enclosure.
Bearded dragons don’t need light at night because they like to sleep in darkness. At night bearded dragons need only heating light. You can use ceramic heat bulbs because they only emit heat without light.
Without heating light, the bearded dragon will be unable to control his body temperature, and there are more chances of impaction and stomach issues.
Light and heat control automation devices in bearded dragon tank
Thermometer
A Thermometer is required to measure the temperature inside the bearded dragon enclosure. Place 2-3 thermometers in the hot and cooler end to measure the temperature gradient.
Thermostat
A thermostat is an instrument needed to control inside tank temperatures. It prevents over-burning or over-cooling of bearded dragons. It would help to connect the heating devices with the thermostat to regulate temperature. When the temperature is high, it will disconnect the heating system according to its encoded program.
Light Timer
A power center or light timer is required to automate the basking lights and heating bulbs. The power center will automatically turn off and on the lights at their required time. You will be free from heating and light management routine with these devices.
Humidity
Humidity is essential for a bearded dragon because it helps in ecdysis. Ideal humidity in the bearded dragon tank is 35-40%, and it mimics the humidity level in natural habitats. You can maintain this humidity level by open ventilation. In warmer areas, you can increase humidity by placing a water dish away from the basking spot.
A hygrometer is required to measure the humidity inside the bearded dragon tank.
Feeding supplies in bearded dragon tank
Bearded dragons need the following feeding essentials in an enclosure.
Live insect feeders
Bearded dragons of any age need live insects in their feed. Dubia roaches and crickets are commonly used staple insects. You can feed it as a treat or as a supplement.
Shallow dishes
You need three or more dishes in an enclosure for fruits, insects, vegetables, supplements, and water.
Feeding container
If you want to prevent feed wastage and more accurate feeding in a loose substrate in a tank, you need a plastic container.
You can use insect tweezers to catch live insects to prevent itchiness from insect bites.
Bearded dragon Tank Supplies and accessories
In all vivariums, decorative structures are not only for decoration, but they also have functions. Your bearded dragon can hide, rest and bask according to the needs of a bearded dragon.
Basking Rock/log
Bearded dragons love to bask under a light source. You can place a flat rock or log directly underneath the light lamp.
Place a rock or log in the right place in an enclosure, and the distance between the lightbulb/light source and the rock should be such that it prevents the enclosure from overheating or overcooling.
Build a temperature gradient in an enclosure. Your bearded dragon will move in the enclosure according to its temperature needs.
Things to climb
Climbing is something you’ll see bearded dragons do when basking. You should supply sturdy, clean branches for climbing in the bearded dragon’s tank. A hammock is another useful option for hanging in an enclosure.
Hiding places
Hiding behavior is typical of bearded dragons during their natural habitat. You can place a shallow cave inside the enclosure. The hiding activity gives clues about the bearded dragon’s health and comfort level in a tank.
When a bearded dragon feels ill or stressed, it stays in hiding most of the time. You can track the reason behind this stress for better health and life of bearded dragon.
Summary
Bearded dragons are very docile, and they need minimum husbandry requirements after setting up their enclosure.
An ideal and comfortable bearded dragon should have
- 75-gallon glass wood made tank
- reptile carpet as a substrate
- UVA and UVB light source
- thermo meter,hygro mter,thermostat
- feeding and water supplies
- hiding and climbing supplies.
A bearded dragon can live more than ten years in a comfortable vivarium. Now you can build an enclosure that will be safe and economical for your new bearded dragon. You will want to strive for perfection with this, as all good bearded dragon owners do, but also be kind to yourself, follow the right advice and make sure you give it happiness as a priority, not the equivalent of a Malibu beach of vivariums!
If you have any queries about what bearded dragon needs in their tank, you can leave your texts in the comment box. We will try to answer the questions. Thanks for reading this article.
