Bearded dragons are an excellent reptile choice for the beginner hobbyist. They can live quite comfortably in captivity if their basic housing needs are met.
Enclosure Size and Decor
Bearded dragons will need a moderate sized aquarium (55 gallons or larger) or reptile enclosure to ensure they have enough room to get exercise. With this reptile species a larger floor space is more desirable than a taller climbing space. To make a bearded dragon feel right at home it is important to add some natural decor such as rocks and branches. Bearded dragons enjoy having some climbing materials and will often perch up on them to bask. A reptile cave is often appreciated as well because it gives the dragon a place to hide out if it is feeling threatened or stressed. Stacking rocks as a way of creating caves can be dangerous due to the possibility that the rocks could collapse when the dragon climbs on them. Bearded dragons are excellent climbers so a properly fitting reptile lid is needed to keep them contained in their enclosures.
Substrate Requirements
The type of substrate selected for use in a bearded dragon enclosure is very important. Most reptile substrates will be safe but some are more dragon friendly than others. Options for substrate include:
- Reptile carpet
- Play sand
- Calcium sand
- Reptile Bark
- Newspaper
Reptile Carpet
Reptile carpets are considered to be an excellent choice for bearded dragons. They are safe, easy to clean, and have a fairly nice appearance. A reptile carpet will cost a little bit more than some of the other options but because it is washable and can be reused it will prove to be a good investment. Carpets are simple to install because they can usually be bought in several sizes that are pre-cut to fit standard aquariums.
Sand Substrates
Play sand is a reasonable option for substrate because it is easy to find at most garden stores and is not very expensive. Specially made reptile calcium sands are easy to come by at pet stores. Sand can be a dangerous choice because occasionally when hunting and eating a bearded dragon will ingest some substrate. Some types of sand could cause an impaction in a bearded dragon if ingested so be sure that the sand chosen is not clay based or better yet stick with another substrate option instead.
Reptile Bark
Reptile bark is not the best substrate for a bearded dragon because it will hold in a lot of moisture if it gets wet. Bearded dragons require a dry environment to avoid the respiratory diseases that they are prone to.
Newspaper
Newspaper is by far the most economical and easiest choice for substrate in any reptile enclosure. It is a safe option but not as nice to look at.
Temperature Requirements
Bearded dragons are native to Australia and they require a warm environment in order to thrive and to digest their food. There are several appropriate options for keeping a captive bearded dragon warm. Heating lights are commonly used and dragons love to bask under the warmth on their favorite perch. Heating pads and rocks are two other heat sources that can be used. Heating rocks can occasionally get too warm and burn a reptile that has fallen asleep on them. Some owners avoid this problem by placing the heating rock inside an old sock. The bearded dragon’s enclosure should remain at a temperature of 90F to 95F on the warm side of the enclosure and 75F to 85F on the cool side. It is imperative that bearded dragons are provided with a cooler area to get away from high temperatures if they need to do so.
Lighting Needs
Bearded dragons require lighting with a high UV-A and UV-B output in order for their bodies to metabolize calcium. A standard fluorescent aquarium light ballast will work just fine as long as the bulbs used are specifically designed for reptile use. UV output diminishes very rapidly so bulbs should be replaced yearly to ensure adequate lighting requirements are met.
Every reptile hobbyist has his own unique methods for keeping his pet healthy and happy but it is very important that the reptile's basic needs for the enclosure size, substrate, temperature, and lighting are met.
To learn more about bearded dragons see the article titled Feeding Bearded Dragons.
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