So you're getting a new bearded dragon? Congratulations! One of the well-nigh exciting things you can do before he arrives is put together his new abode. Only it tin likewise be a really overwhelming task, because there is no shortage of opinions on how to create the perfect disguised dragon tank setup . What kind of material should you utilise? How hot should the tank exist? Is sand really that bad? What kind of lights do yous demand?

Don't be overwhelmed! Nosotros're sharing the nuts you lot need to create your ideal disguised dragon tank setup and get an overview of what is safety and what is not when information technology comes to preparing your dragon's new home.

Bearded Dragon Tank Setup: Supplies

Before you bring your dragon home, you lot'll need to have the following supplies:

  • Enclosure
  • UVB light
  • Heating element, thermometer, and hygrometer
  • Basking rock or log
  • Flooring
  • Some shallow dishes for water and nutrient
  • Live feeder insects and tweezers
  • Adequate space in your dwelling

Disguised Dragon Tank Setup: The Enclosure

First things showtime! What kind of enclosure do yous want your disguised dragon to be living in? This is an important decision. Your dragon will spend quite a lot of time here, and information technology's important to make him as happy as possible.

At that place are a number of factors to consider when choosing the best enclosure for your bearded dragon tank setup: size, material, and where you will keep the enclosure in your home.

Size. What size tank does a bearded dragon need? The size of your disguised dragon will help you lot determine the size of the enclosure. The standard size for disguised dragons is 40 gallons, although many adults are too large for this size and may go stressed. Hither is a good rule of thumb for choosing a tank size based on your dragon'south length:

  • Babies (under 10 inches long): 20 gallons
  • Juveniles (10 to sixteen inches long): 40 gallons
  • Adults (over 16 inches long): 50 to 75 gallons
  • Adults (over 20 inches long): 75 to 125 gallons

If yous plan on getting a babe bearded dragon, it may exist tempting to purchase a 20-gallon tank. If yous make up one's mind to exercise this, just recollect dragons tend to abound fast so you will presently demand a twoscore-gallon tank. Many Dragon Keepers finish upwards getting a 40-gallon tank even for a infant to avoid ownership another one then soon afterward, just information technology'southward up to you.

You may decide to get a 20-gallon for now because you have a small-scale space and you'll be moving before long. Or maybe you are keeping a baby and then giving him to a friend. It all depends on your circumstances and preferences.

Choosing the proper size tank for your bearded dragon helps her to feel comfortable and less stressed, particularly in those kickoff few weeks when you bring her home and she is adjusting to a whole new environment. A expert size tank prevents glass surfing as well, which is often acquired past dragons feeling too caged in.

Closeup of a bearded dragon in his terrarium

Enclosure Textile

At present let's discuss what is the best fabric to use for your tank. There are definitely plenty to choose from, and if you lot kickoff looking upwards options online you may feel overwhelmed. If you aren't going to build your own tank DIY style, chances are you'll buy one online or at a pet shop. Here are some of the bones tanks that you can choose from:

  • Glass . A popular choice, glass terrariums are sturdy, widely available, and usually come with a screen lid that improves airflow and helps regulate the depression humidity dragons need. You can also get a front end-opening glass terrarium that makes it easy to admission your pet and clean the tank.On the downside, glass is a poor heat insulator, so you'll accept to check the temperature regularly to make sure information technology's non too cold. This isn't besides hard to commit to peculiarly if yous accept a thermometer gun.
  • Wood and Drinking glass. Many Dragon Keepers opt to go a terrarium made of forest and drinking glass instead of just glass with a screen top. Oft this ways there is one side that is glass and the rest is wood. Wood is an fantabulous heat insulator, so this may be a better selection for you than a full glass terrarium if you alive in a colder area or like to go on your home temperature low. It also may offer y'all more peace of heed so you lot don't accept to worry about your dragon's heat as much.
  • PVC Plastic is some other option. Information technology's quite lightweight, and there are generally a lot of colors you lot can choose from. PVC enclosures are often designed for stacking, which is ideal if y'all plan on adopting more than one dragon.Ane mutual issue with PVC terrariums is poor airflow, so you have to be a footling more vigilant with the humidity levels than with other cages. This shouldn't be likewise difficult if you get into the habit of checking the humidity on a regular footing.
  • Screen. In your search for a terrarium you lot may see some that accept walls fabricated from wire screens. These are extremely dangerous for bearded dragons. In add-on to the obvious heating issue, screen cages tin can injure bearded dragons.Of course, glass terrariums with a screen lid are a different story, because the bearded dragon will likely non be able to reach the screen lid. Nosotros cannot recommend using a screen-walled terrarium.

Location in Your Abode

Some first-time Dragon Keepers might not realize how important it is to make up one's mind where you lot will put your bearded dragon ahead of time. It will salvage you lot a lot of stress if you clear a place and get everything gear up before y'all bring your new reptile friend home. Hither are some guidelines in deciding where to keep your dragon's new abode:

  • Do non place your dragon in direct sunlight.This can actually kill your bearded dragon. Although sunlight is good for them in the wild, in a domestic environment it quickly becomes deadly. The heat from the lord's day hands becomes trapped in the terrarium—especially if it'southward drinking glass—and the temperature will become life-threatening to your dragon. A good quality UVB lamp is the best mode to provide the heat and light they need.
  • Know ahead of fourth dimension how much room y'all demand. If you've never owned a reptile earlier, you may not realize how large the tank really is, and the amount of infinite it takes upwards may surprise you lot. The standard size forty-gallon tank is 36 inches long by 18 inches wide by 18 inches deep. You will need a sturdy surface to set information technology on, so brand sure you mensurate in accelerate.
  • If you take other pets or small children, make certain the disguised dragon's tank is out of their reach. Cats and dogs can kill your dragon. If you tin can't keep your dragon in a split up room from your cat or domestic dog, brand absolutely certain that the enclosure will not topple and that the lid is secure. If you have minor children, never let them most the tank unsupervised, and be certain the terrarium is out of their reach. Children tin be seriously hurt if they manage to topple the tank, non to mention your dragon could exist hurt or killed.
  • At the same fourth dimension, brand sure you lot can access the tank easily. You will need to clean the tank, take your dragon out for playtime and baths, and requite your dragon lots of love, so it's best to make sure you can easily become to the tank.
  • Keep the enclosure abroad from loud noises. Loud noises tend to really upset bearded dragons. For example, if you have a big screen TV that you lookout ofttimes, or if you play electric guitar, or if there is a side of your business firm where you lot tin hear abiding traffic, try to go on your dragon out of earshot.
  • Keep the tank in a identify that is light during the day and dark at dark. While you will exist providing UVB light 12 hours a day for your dragon, they take problem sleeping if lights are left on at night, so information technology's best to place them in an area that is repose and dark at night. This is especially important during brumation if your bearded dragon ends upwardly going through that process.

Two bearded dragons

Do Not Plan for Cohabitation

If yous are planning to prefer multiple bearded dragons or if you already accept i and are adding to your reptile family, please do not house them together. It is rarely a proficient thought.

  • Bearded dragons are territorial and could impale each other, especially if you house ii males together.
  • If yous house ii females together, the less dominant of the ii could become seriously sick because the more dominant one will take over the food bowl and the basking spot.
  • If you firm a male and female person together, they will begin to reproduce and you must be prepared to take care of multiple baby dragons.

Disguised Dragon Tank Setup: Flooring

Another fundamental component in giving your beardie a comfortable home is choosing the best flooring. There are quite a lot of options available, and unfortunately not all of them are prophylactic. When you lot think about what floor you lot want to use, the most important gene to consider is what is best for your dragon? What volition help your dragon feel happy and comfortable in their new dwelling house? What will keep them clean and safe? What flooring is safe for them and easy for you to take care of? Let'southward get to the "bottom" of it.

Some of the very popular options are not condom for your bearded dragon, and some are. Information technology's best to practice your research and be fully informed before y'all make a decision. You can fifty-fifty give your local vet or reptile shelter a call and weigh their opinion likewise.

All-time and Worst Flooring Options

Substrate is a hotly debated topic among Dragon Keepers. Many substrates are truly dangerous for bearded dragons for the following reasons:

  • They can crusade impaction, middle and nose irritation, and even internal injury.
  • They tin can also be really difficult to keep gratis of bacteria and parasites.
  • Alive insects tin easily hide in substrate.

    • If you lot choose to utilise substrate, you must really practise your enquiry and make absolutely sure that you lot are choosing the safest option for your dragon.

    Sand is one of the most common substrates that people employ for their dragons. But it is very dangerous for your dragon. While sand is part of dragons' natural habitat in the desert, the sand that yous meet for sale at pet stores and online is not Australian desert sand. It can cause gut impaction and tin easily be inhaled, causing respiratory issues; not to mention it can as well get stuck in your beardie'southward eyes, causing irritation.

    Pebbles and rocks are a big no as well. These tin can cause impaction and break your dragon's teeth.

    Pebbles

    Walnut shells, for like reasons, pose an extreme threat to your dragon's wellness.

    Other substrates are bachelor for bearded dragons besides. These are frequently made upwardly of some kind of wood chips, calcium powder, coconut fiber, or some kind of edible fabric. We highly recommend consulting with your vet if you are interested in using this kind of substrate. While the ones made of edible or calcium-infused materials are dangerous, some of the forest options may work well for you lot depending on your situation.

    Some substrates including wooden fries are quite absorptive and easy to clean, but there is all the same some take chances of impaction and you must be vigilant about cleaning them when your dragon goes to the bathroom.

    The other outcome you may run into with these softer, dense substrates is they retain moisture, which can raise the humidity levels in your dragon's tank. If you go this route, just employ your hygrometer to monitor the humidity.

    One other thing you lot need to keep in heed with loose substrate is live insect feedings. Alive insects such every bit crickets, Dubia roaches, and worms will try to escape your bearded dragon during mealtime. This chase can be fun to watch and is function of the natural gild of things, merely it's dangerous in a loose substrate setting.

    The insects can easily coffin themselves in the substrate and hide until long after feeding time. They will either bite your dragon (crickets are notorious for this, and their bitter hurts!) or they will eventually die and begin to rot in the tank, causing a smell and posing a threat to your dragon's health. If y'all take loose substrate, apply a special designated expanse away from the substrate for live insect feeding. A big plastic container works quite well for this.

    Sand mats are non a great option either. They tin impairment your disguised dragon by scratching them or causing impaction or internal injury when your beardie ingests dislodged pieces.

    Reptile carpet is a great option for your dragon. It doesn't cost much, it'south easy to clean, and about options you will observe are designed to forestall odors. You do take to remove it to clean it, so information technology'due south all-time to have at to the lowest degree i extra carpet on hand. If you take a infant dragon, you may want to go on more than 2 carpets since babies go to the bathroom more than often than adults.

    Tile is a very pop choice amongst Dragon Keepers. Night-colored ceramic and slate tile are ideal choices. Both materials provide your dragon with traction to move around comfortably, and dark colors will prevent the tile from getting cold.

    Make certain you don't utilize vinyl or linoleum, which are too slippery for your disguised dragon's claws to gain whatsoever traction. The other issue with those materials is they retain a lot of oestrus and at that place is nowhere for it to escape in your dragon'south tank, so it can burn your dragon.

    Be very careful when putting the tile in your bearded dragon's tank. Information technology can scrape or break the terrarium flooring, especially if it's drinking glass. Using a thin towel or paper between the floor and the tile tin assistance protect the tank's floor.

    Dirt is a really fun option for your disguised dragon if y'all have time and are willing to put in a piffling actress effort to set it upwardly. You tin get actually creative with information technology and sculpt an exciting desert-similar terrain with burrows, hills, and hideaways.

    Once y'all purchase the reptile excavator clay at your local pet store or online, mix it with water and let it dry in the tank. Your dragon tin can burrow in the clay but information technology will non break off and cause impaction. The only issue you may come across with clay is every few months y'all have to remove and supersede it, which can be a hassle if yous don't have a lot of actress fourth dimension to take intendance of that.

    Paper is easily the cheapest pick for your bearded dragon. It'due south a great choice for babies since they get to the bath a lot and paper is incredibly easy to replace.

    Lightbulb

    Bearded Dragon Tank Setup : Proper Lights, Heating, and Humidity

    Dragons are common cold-blooded creatures native to the Australian desert. They don't generate their own body heat, so they demand proper heating and lighting mimicking their natural habitat in social club to survive. Poor lighting or heat can cause metabolic bone affliction , a very serious condition that warps your dragon's skeletal system and inhibits digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Metabolic bone illness can paralyze and impale your dragon if left untreated.

    Here are some things you'll need to maintain the proper heat, lighting, and humidity that your dragon needs to stay comfortable and good for you:

    • UVB lamp. Many vets recommend a self ballasted mercury vapor UVB lamp considering they emit heat forth with UVB rays. Information technology's best to replace the UVB bulb every six months to ensure the all-time quality rays and oestrus for your dragon.
    • Heat lamp and UVB bulb. If yous will not be using a UVB lamp that emits heat as well as UVB rays, then you will demand a heat lamp too as a UVB bulb.
    • Ceramic heat emitter. You lot will need this if you are unable to maintain a temperature in a higher place 65 degrees in your abode at night.
    • Thermometer. To ensure your dragon is getting the proper temperatures at any given time of the day or night, you lot'll want to have a good thermometer on hand. You could place a couple digital thermometers at either end of your disguised dragon's tank, or you could use a temperature gun to quickly scan unlike areas of the tank.
    • Hygrometer. It's helpful to take a hygrometer to measure the humidity in your dragon's tank.

    Once yous have the necessary supplies, proceed these lighting, heating, and humidity guidelines in mind for your bearded dragon tank setup :

    • UVB exposure. Whether you get a cocky ballasted UVB lamp or some other kind, ensure your dragon gets 12 hours of UVB ray exposure a day.
    • Humidity. The platonic humidity for bearded dragons is 35 to 40% because that mimics the humidity levels in their natural habitat. This is oftentimes easy to attain simply by providing acceptable ventilation (for case, your drinking glass tank screen lid), placing the water dish away from the basking spot, and not misting your dragon's tank too often.
    • Reddish lights. Yous may notice in your research that some disguised dragon tanks have a reddish light on at night. Although many Dragon Keepers choose to exercise this, it'south not necessary and can be stressful for your bearded dragon. In the wild, bearded dragons would get to sleep in total darkness, or maybe nether soft moonlight and starlight. Red lights or other night lights you can get for your dragon just aren't the same. Dragons have trouble sleeping when in that location is likewise much light, specially from a seedling or screen. And then it'south best to avert adding a cerise light or night light to your dragon's tank.
    • Daytime temperatures. Every dragon needs a basking spot, and this spot should be betwixt 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Other parts of the tank should be cooler so your dragon can regulate body temperature as needed.
    • Nighttime temperatures. At nighttime, the unabridged tank should range from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Of grade, you don't have to go on a basking spot at night.

    Bearded Dragon Tank Setup: Decor

    Perhaps the about fun part of setting up your dragon'south new home is selecting the decor! When it comes to creativity, the sky's the limit. Some Dragon Keepers opt for a laid back, unproblematic surround, while others choose an elaborate theme such every bit exotic desert or tropical rainforest. If you are a showtime fourth dimension Dragon Keeper, you may desire to keep it simple to start out, but it'south entirely upwardly to you.

    Potted succulents on a desk

    Regardless of your manner or theme, here are some items to include in your disguised dragon tank setup:

    • Basking log or stone. Your disguised dragon will need a big surface to bask on beneath the heating lamp. A log or rock is perfect for this.
    • Hideaway. For bedtime, brumation, and post-obit the natural instincts of burrowing, your dragon needs a hide. At that place are enough of options available and then yous can discover one that matches your tank's manner.
    • Things to climb on. Whether it'south branches, rocks, logs, or another fixture that matches your decor theme, bearded dragons love to climb on things. Of course, just make sure there is still room on the footing for your dragon as well.
    • Hammock. Bearded dragons dear hanging out and lounging in hammocks. Place one in the corner of your tank opposite the heating lamp, and your disguised dragon volition thank you.
    • Plants. Many Dragon Keepers enjoy decorating the terrarium with plants, live or faux.

    Live plants can affect the humidity levels in your dragon's tank, so be sure to use your hygrometer oft. Keep in mind that your dragon may consume some of the live plants, and so it'southward important to only keep live plants and herbs that are safe for your bearded dragon to ingest.

      Safe plants include:

      • Aloe vera (If your dragon eats too much of this, she may become diarrhea, so merely keep an eye on things)
      • Herbs such equally rosemary, basil, oregano, and parsley (they may wilt in the humidity so supervene upon them when they begin to go bad)
      • Turtle vine
      • Succulents such equally echeveria and haworthia
      • Prickly pear cacti (with spines removed)

      Another matter to go on in heed if you lot are interested in using live plants is that y'all volition have to water and care for them equally well as caring for your dragon. If you've never taken intendance of plants before, you lot may desire to get-go with a plant outside the terrarium and become from there.

      Pro Tip: Ordinarily it's safest just to use plastic plants. Make sure they are high quality to minimize the hazard of your dragon bitter off a piece and choking or becoming impacted.

      Disguised Dragon Tank Setup: Feeding Essentials

      • Shallow dishes. For greens, fruits, insects, supplements, and water, yous'll desire at least three or four shallow dishes on manus.
      • Insect tweezers. For live insect feeding , information technology'due south helpful to have ane or two pairs of tweezers on hand. Not only can information technology be fun to feed your dragon with the tweezers, but information technology tin can protect you from insects that can pinch or seize with teeth, and it's besides a proficient pick for those who would rather not touch live bugs with their hands.
      • Container for feeding. If you are using loose substrate or you desire to get more up-shut and personal when feeding your dragon, or if you lot simply don't want to unleash live insects into the terrarium and prefer a more contained environs, y'all'll desire to have a large, shallow plastic container on manus.
      • Live feeder insects. Whether you are getting a baby, juvenile, or adult bearded dragon, you lot will demand to include live insects in their diet. Crickets and Dubia roaches are the nearly popular staple insects, and there are plenty to choose from as treats and supplements. Decide ahead of time what insects yous will kickoff with and see how your dragon likes them. And make certain you lot understand how to keep and care for the insects y'all choose, too.

      Good for you disguised dragons can alive upwards of 10 years with proper care. The terrarium plays a huge role in giving your bearded dragon a healthy, happy life. Now that you know the basics of creating the all-time bearded dragon tank setup , y'all can provide your reptile with a home where she can thrive.

      If yous have questions or would similar to requite feedback, please email u.s.a. at [electronic mail protected]