FAQs About How to Set Up a Bearded Dragon Terrarium

What kind of tank should I get?

Glass tanks are super popular because they’re sturdy, durable and easy to clean. Make sure you also get a wire/mesh screen cover for the top of the tank. This keeps unwanted guests out (i.e., curious kids and pets) and helps with air circulation. You can also get glass tanks as part of a bearded dragon kit.

As for tank size, that depends on the size of your bearded dragon:

• If it’s under 10 inches long (i.e., a baby), choose a 20-gallon tank.
• If it’s between 10 to 16 inches long (i.e., a juvenile), get a 40-gallon tank.
• Adults over 16 inches long require a 50 to 75-gallon tank.
• Adults over 20 inches long need at least a 75 to 100-gallon tank.

Avoid an all-wire enclosure. They’re terrible for temperature and humidity maintenance.

How many bearded dragons can I put in a tank?

It’s best to have one per tank. Bearded dragons can get very territorial and ultra-competitive, especially if they’re the same gender. Put a male and female together and you could end up with a stressed-out female—or even baby dragons.

But baby dragons sound so cute!

On average, bearded dragons lay about 20 eggs at a time.

Where should I put my bearded dragon habitat?

Pick a quiet room. Loud noises (e.g., a TV, stereo, outside traffic) can be upsetting to bearded dragons. You should also choose a place that’s out of the reach of small children and other pets. Plus, to keep their biological clocks in sync, put the habitat in a place where they can get 8 to 12 hours of daylight and 8 to 12 hours of darkness.

So, can I put a bearded dragon enclosure in direct sunlight?

Like ranch dressing soda, bad idea. A room that gets natural sunlight is fine, but don’t put their tank directly in the light. Direct sunlight creates heat that gets trapped in the tank, causing the enclosure to get too hot. Nevertheless, bearded dragons still need the UVB rays found in sunlight to help them synthesize vitamin D3 and absorb calcium. UVB bulbs to the rescue. Make them a part of your terrarium setup and always expose your bearded dragon to UVB light 8 to 12 hours a day. We also recommend using a timer to keep light cycles consistent and so that you don’t forget to turn lights on and off.

What’s the right temperature for their tank?

To mimic their natural environment, the ambient temperature of a bearded dragon terrarium should be between 78° and 90° F. The enclosure should have one hot spot (for basking) that is between 95° and 100° F and one cool spot that is around 68° F, give or take a few degrees.

To help keep the tank at the right temperature, you’ll want thermometers (for both the hot and cool spots), an under tank heater (also called a heat pad) and day/daytime bulbs (i.e., heat lamps). A 100-wat bulb should be enough for a 40-gallon tank, but you may need something with more wattage, especially for a larger enclosure. The changing of the seasons can also affect the tank’s temperature, so take that into consideration if you run the AC when it gets hot and a heater when it gets cool or cold. And don’t forget the dome lamp and combo dual lamp fixtures for all your bulbs.

What if they get a little too warm or chilly?

You can put decorative hideaways called hides in your bearded dragon’s tank. There are dry hides where they can warm up and cool hides where they can find some relief from the heat. Just remember to put the dry hide in the tank’s warmer area and the cool hide in the cooler area.

How humid should I keep their tank?

Bearded dragons are low humidity reptiles, so humidity levels need to be around 35 to 40%. Anything above can lead to respiratory issues. Anything below can cause shedding issues, i.e., stuck shed. That’s why it’s important to have a hygrometer(for measuring humidity levels).

What substrates are safe for a bearded dragon terrarium?

We recommend shredded aspen bedding or reptile carpet. We also recognize sand and other loose substrates are both popular and unpopular with bearded dragon owners. The reason for the controversy is impaction, i.e., the blockage of an animal’s digestive tract caused by the ingestion of solid masses.

In the wild, reptiles swallow a minimal amount of natural debris; however, if they’re malnourished, they’re known to intentionally eat sand and other non-foods. The key to discouraging this abnormal behavior is to keep their enclosure properly maintained in terms of temperature, humidity and cleanliness. Plus, you need to make sure your bearded dragon is eating a healthy diet and getting enough UVB light. If you have other questions or concerns about substrates, we suggest you talk with your veterinarian.

What do bearded dragons eat?

About 50 to 60% of an adult bearded dragon’s diet should be based on plant matter. The rest of their diet needs to be protein from live insects, e.g., crickets and Dubia roaches. You can also feed them bearded dragon food pellets. Plus, we recommend dusting their food with calcium supplements three times a week and a multi-vitamin supplement once a week. In addition, you’ll want three or four shallow reptile food and water dishes. One of those water dishes should be big enough for soaking—and get some dechlorinating drops for their water.

Any other bearded dragon enclosure ideas?

To encourage climbing and basking, bring the outdoors in with the kind of non-toxic, reptile-safe branches, rocks and logs you’ll find at Pet Supplies Plus. Keep the vibe laid back with a reptile hammock or lounger. And add some greenery to their home with reptile-safe artificial plants.

If you want live plants, be mindful that they can increase the tank’s humidity levels. Plus, bearded dragons are known to eat live plants, so choose safe ones like aloe vera (FYI may cause diarrhea if they eat too much), herbs (e.g., rosemary, basil, oregano, parsley), prickly pear cacti (with the spines removed), succulents (e.g., echeveria, haworthia) and turtle vine.

You can do this! The basic things to remember are get the right tank size, try to recreate a subtropical woodland or desert-like environment, always keep their enclosure at the right temperature and humidity levels, make sure they’re getting enough UVB light and feed them a proper diet for a bearded dragon. And never forget: Life is better with “beardies.”