The ideal cage for a bearded dragon cage is a well-designed, spacious enclosure that allows your reptile to move around freely, maintain proper body temperature, and engage in natural behaviors like climbing and basking. This guide to choosing the perfect bearded dragon cage will help you choose the right size, material, and design. Along with advice drawn from Australian guidelines that set standards for reptile care this guide gives you everything you need to know.
“…many companion lizards are housed in minimalistic enclosures where convenience and simply keeping the animal alive is the main priority.”
(Middleton-Beck. BSc hons, PGDip CABC , 2015)
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Why a Large Bearded Dragon Cage is the Right Choice
A large bearded dragon cage provides them with a home where they can thrive. Research consistently shows that reptiles are healthier and more active when housed in larger enclosures. Natural behaviors such as climbing, basking, and exploring are essential for their physical and mental wellbeing (Wilkinson, 2015).
More Space Equals Better Health and Wellbeing
Bearded dragons roam across vast areas in the wild. When confined to small enclosures, they miss the chance to perform natural activities, which can lead to stress, behavioral problems, and physical issues like muscle atrophy and obesity (Middleton-Beck, 2015). A 6-foot cage or larger provides your bearded dragon with sufficient space to move freely, helping to regulate their body temperature and stay healthy.
Cannon (2003) emphasizes the importance of providing adequate space for bearded dragons and how small enclosures can significantly impact their health and behavior. Cannon suggests that enclosures for adult bearded dragons should measure at least 5 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 3.3 feet high (1.5 meters x 0.6 meters x 1 meter) as a minimum.
Providing a larger enclosure also allows for a proper thermal gradient. This means your bearded dragon can move between cooler and warmer areas for optimal metabolic health. Larger cages reduce the concentration levels of harmful bacteria which aids in the health of your reptile in between cleans.
When it comes to space, there is no upper limit. It is far better for a reptile to have more space than it requires, than to require more space and not have it. Unfortunately, most reptile housing appears to based on convenience, budget and, in some cases, ignorance of the true spatial needs of reptiles.
(Laidlaw, 2016)
Cage Height and Why Vertical Space Matters
Bearded dragons are semi-arboreal, meaning they enjoy climbing and basking on elevated surfaces. It’s not just how long your bearded dragon cage is; the height is equally important.
Provide sufficient height that creates a good thermal gradient, with basking areas at the top and cooler areas below.
Branches, vines, and shelves in the vertical area encourage your bearded dragon to climb and stay engaged, which is important for their physical activity and mental stimulation. This is easy to achieve if you are building a custom enclosure.
The Queensland Code of Practice recommends a minimum height of 80 cm (31.4 inches). Higher will provide even more room for climbing structures. However, the thermal graident of the bearded dragon cage must be factored in as well. Additional heating and lighting may be needed for tall cages.
Giving your bearded dragon a large cage gives you Peace of mind, knowing they have the room to live and be engaged in their home, not just confined to a few feet because that is all they have. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase your creativity by designing a custom environment that impresses your friends and demonstrates your dedication to your pet’s wellbeing.
For more detailed guidelines on cage size and setup, including recommendations based on Australian standards, check out our full Bearded Dragon Cage Size Guide.
8 Factors to Help you Choose which Type of Cage You Prefer
Here are 7 factors to help you choose which type of cage you prefer:
1. Privacy to provide peace and space when your bearded dragon needs it: Bearded dragons need to be able to hide at times. A big enclosure provides room for accessories like a hide in a cool area, which is important to their mental and physical wellbeing.
2. Well planned cage ventilation to avoid respiratory issues or excess loss of heat: Poor airflow can create health issues like respiratory problems. Glass and PVC cages may need additional ventilation to prevent bacteria and mold from thriving, ensuring a healthy environment.
3. Making the cage escape proof and prevent predators getting in: Bearded dragon cages need to be safe so that your reptile is kept in and predators (like some cats) are kept out.
4. Make it easy to access for handling your reptile and cleaning: Regular cleaning is really important to prevent bacteria buildup. Look for cage features like removable lids or doors that give you easy access to clean, feed, and handle your reptile.
5. Aesthetic appeal, make your bearded dragon cage something you are proud to show off: It’s a great feeling when you look at your bearded dragon cage and it adds to the aesthetic appeal of your home. Make it the conversation piece with your friends, something you’re proud to show off.
6. Durability and lasting for your bearded dragons life: Choose a cage made from materials that can cope with moisture and heat and stand the test of time.
7. Cage to keep your bearded dragon safe from harm: Avoid materials with sharp edges or those that could become fire hazards, especially near heating elements. Safety also includes ensuring climbing accessories and branches are securely anchored to prevent accidents.
8. Ventilation to avoid heating and respiratory issues: Bearded dragon cages need good ventilation to prevent health issues like respiratory infections and prevent excessive bacteria and mold growth. Glass tanks have limited ventilation, they are more suited to fish than reptiles. PVC cages may also require extra ventilation.
Too much ventilation may be an issue for keeping the bearded dragon cage warm for basking or at night.
7 Types of Bearded Dragon Cages: Exploring the Options
Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of bearded dragon cage options and their advantages and disadvantages.
| Type of Enclosure | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Aquariums | Easy to clean. 360-degree view for observing your bearded dragon. Scratch-resistant. Waterproof. | Can be heavy and difficult to move. Poor ventilation, leading to moisture buildup and potential respiratory issues. Limited size options. Not customizable. Potential stress from reflections, causing nose rubbing and glass surfing. Hard to access for cleaning and maintenance. |
| Melamine Cages | Customizable with shelves, vents, and accessories. Durable when sealed correctly. Provides privacy, reducing reflection-related stress. | Can be heavy and difficult to move. Requires proper sealing to avoid warping from moisture. Challenging to clean if moisture seeps into unsealed areas. |
| PVC & ABS Plastic Cages | Lightweight and easy to transport. Waterproof. Easy to clean and maintain. | Expensive compared to other materials. Prone to scratches, which reduce visual appeal. Requires proper ventilation to prevent overheating. |
| Wooden Enclosures | Customizable to accommodate natural elements like branches and rocks. Natural aesthetic that blends well with home decor. Better ventilation than glass tanks. | Requires sealing to prevent moisture damage. May be heavy depending on wood type. |
| Vision Cages | Durable, space-efficient, and easy to clean. Popular for set ups that want to stack reptile cages. | Often smaller than recommended for a single adult bearded dragon. Stacking can reduce ventilation, which may cause long-term issues. |
| Outdoor Cages | Provides natural sunlight, promoting natural behaviors. Customizable and spacious, ideal for large setups in suitable climates. Addition to indoor set up not standalone. | Requires protection for harsh weather. |
| DIY Cages | Fully customizable in size, materials, and features. Can reuse furniture or materials for a budget-friendly solution. Allows for creative freedom to design based on your specific needs. | Requires time, effort, and basic DIY skills. May require additional sealing and ventilation depending on materials used. |
DIY Bearded Dragon Cages: Build Your Own Custom Enclosure
Starting with my personal favorite, building your own bearded dragon cage! Making your own cage out of reclaimed furniture or starting from scratch can give some incredibly rewarding results. By designing and constructing a DIY cage, you will have a unique enclosure in the size you want it to be, made out of the materials of your choice, and customized to your requirements. With great customizations, custom enclosures can be the wow factor with your friends.
- Comfort and Privacy: Tailor the enclosure to provide the perfect balance of privacy and visibility.
- Ventilation: Airflow is very important. Too much as you will not be able to keep the environment warm enough (unless your house is already warm). Too little airflow and bacteria and diseases will thrive.
- Ease of Cleaning: Choose materials that are easy to clean and maintain, like sealed wood or plastic.
- Ease of Access: The bearded dragon cage must be easily accessed to be able to handle your reptile and to clean. Custom built cages give you freedom to create perfect access points for cleaning and handling.
- Ease of Viewing: You control the balance of visibility and privacy based on your design.
- Durability: Durability depends on the materials and your craftsmanship—ensure all parts are sealed against moisture.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Your imagination is the limit—build an enclosure that’s unique and fits perfectly with your home decor.
- Safety: The design is to be fire resistant, sealed for moisture, and safe.
Tanks For Bearded Dragons: Are They a Good Choice?
Glass enclosures are one of the most popular choices for beginners. This is mostly due to being unaware of the issues and pet shops pushing them in cheap deals. Tanks as a bearded dragon cage, fall short when it comes to providing the ideal environment for bearded dragons.
- Comfort and Privacy: Glass tanks don’t provide any privacy, which could be stressful to your bearded dragon. Try adding a background which blocks the view of at least one side and add some basic accessories for more privacy.
- Ventilation: Poor ventilation often leads to trapped moisture, increasing the risk of respiratory issues.
- Ease of Cleaning: Glass is easy to clean but can be tricky to access, especially with top-only openings.
- Ease of Access: Glass enclosures can have limited access through the top which can make handling and cleaning more challenging. However, terrariums made for reptiles usually have front and top access.
- Ease of Viewing: Since glass tanks are see through they provide full visibility. However, reflections can stress your bearded dragon by making them think they see another dragon.
- Durability: Glass is long-lasting and scratch-resistant.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Glass enclosures can be visually appealing depending on how you set it up.
- Safety: Glass tanks do not keep heat in well. A backing and sides, such as foam rock wall decoration, may assist in insulating. Make sure heat lamps are not positioned too close to the glass, as the surface can become hot to the touch and may burn your bearded dragon.
- Stress and Reflection: Glass can reflect the bearded dragon’s own image which can result in stress responses like glass surfing. In turn the glass surfing can lead to nose rubbing and injuries (Wilkinson, 2016).
Melamine Cages: Durable and Customizable for Indoor Use
Melamine cages offer customization and durability and are great for indoor use.
- Comfort and Privacy: The solid walls of melamine provide some privacy which may help reduce stress. However, that can be pretty boring for both you and your reptile. Cover the walls up with something that looks more natural such as fake rock walls.
- Ventilation: Requires added ventilation to ensure proper airflow and humidity control.
- Ease of Cleaning: Melamine is easy to clean, but all edges must be sealed, or moisture can seep in, and damage will occur.
- Ease of Access: Typically comes with front access, making cleaning and handling easier than glass tanks.
- Ease of Viewing: Solid walls limit visibility but reduce stress-inducing reflections. Although the front of the cage may be reflective glass or Perspex.
- Durability: Melamine is highly durable.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Melamine cages can be easily drilled in or modified to fit your home and style.
- Safety: Melamine is heat-resistant.
PVC and ABS Plastic Cages: Lightweight and Easy to Clean
Lightweight and durable, PVC and ABS plastic cages are easy to clean and move.
- Comfort and Privacy: PVC and ABS cages are solid providing some privacy and visibility. There is potential to add attachments later if needed.
- Ventilation: Good ventilation can be achieved but they may need a bit more than what they come with depending on their design.
- Ease of Cleaning: Waterproof and non-porous, making them very easy to clean and maintain.
- Ease of Access: PVC and ABS cages usually have doors opening at the front or side which can make access easy.
- Ease of Viewing: The PVC and ABS cages will have at least one side that is transparent for easy viewing.
- Durability: Highly durable, resistant to warping, and long-lasting.
- Aesthetic Appeal: PVC and ABS cages may scratch easily, which can affect their look over time.
- Safety: Fire and heat resistant, but proper ventilation is essential to avoid overheating.
Wooden Enclosures: A Natural Look with Room for Customization
Wooden enclosures can be very appealing. Plus if you like DIY then they offer great flexibility in making a unique home for your bearded dragon that you are proud of.
- Comfort and Privacy: Wooden enclosures offer excellent privacy, which may reduce stress levels in your bearded dragon.
- Ventilation: Wood enclosures often offer better ventilation than glass but require added vents for optimal airflow.
- Ease of Cleaning: Wood can be easily cleaned if it is properly sealed first. However, wood won’t take as kindly to cleaning with steam cleaners if it is needed. Steam cleaners can be handy for infections such as coccidia but there are other solutions. Having said that, wood can be sealed then covered with water resistant fake rock walls which can be cleaned with steam cleaners.
- Ease of Access: Front access makes it easy to handle and clean, especially in custom-built models.
- Ease of Viewing: Limited visibility, but great for maintaining a stress-free environment.
- Durability: Wood can certainly last a long time when properly sealed and maintained.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Wood offers a beautiful, natural look that can blend into your home seamlessly.
- Safety: Must be sealed against moisture.
Vision Cages: Modular
Vision cages are designed for stacking.
- Comfort and Privacy: Vision cages provide some privacy but might not offer enough personal space for long-term housing.
- Ventilation: Ventilation is often compromised when stacked, so modifications may be necessary to ensure airflow.
- Ease of Cleaning: Easy to clean, with smooth plastic surfaces that resist bacteria buildup.
- Ease of Access: Side or front access for easy handling and maintenance.
- Ease of Viewing: Limited due to the modular design, but they provide enough visibility for monitoring.
- Durability: Extremely durable and lightweight, making them ideal for stacking or moving around.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Practical but not always the most visually appealing compared to custom or wooden cages.
- Safety: Durable and heat-resistant, though stacked setups may hinder proper ventilation without modifications.
Outdoor Cages: A Taste of the Wild
If you live in a climate that provides sufficient warmth for at least some outdoor time, then an outdoor enclosure is a must. Outdoor enclosures for bearded dragons provide them with access to natural sunlight. Outdoor homes can be made from various materials, including metal mesh and wooden frames. These enclosures are an addition to the indoor enclosure, not a substitute, although some areas in Australia are suitable for year round use.
- Natural Sunlight: Outdoor cages allow bearded dragons to soak up natural UVB, which is critical for their health.
- Plenty of Space: Outdoor enclosures can be built larger than most indoor cages. An outdoor cage becomes an extension of space and other opportunities to move and explore.
Even if the climate you live in is cold, there may be a few months of the year that the temperatures are sufficient to give your bearded dragon outdoor enclosure time. It doesn’t need to be all year round.
- Comfort and Privacy: Offers your bearded dragon more space and exposure to their natural environment.
- Ventilation: There should be excellent ventilation since it’s out in the open.
- Ease of Cleaning: Outdoor enclosures should be easy enough to hose off.
- Ease of Access: Depending on design, outdoor cages can be easy or challenging to access.
- Ease of Viewing: Visibility will depend on what the cage is made out of.
- Durability: It depends on the materials used. Metal mesh and wooden frames can last a long time but need weatherproofing.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The aesthetic appeal is up to what the outdoor cage is made of. With the right materials, it could blend beautifully with your garden.
- Safety: Must be predator-proof and weather-resistant, requiring careful attention to climate and shelter.
Best Bearded Dragon Cage Setup
Creating Climbing Opportunities: Vertical Space Matters
Bearded dragons are semi-arboreal creatures, so of course they want to climb. Add accessories that use up vertical space in the enclosure, like branches and vines, that will also stimulate their senses and encourage activity.
Multi-level environments increase the usuable room within the bearded dragon cage. Branches and vines provide opportunities for exploration and exercise, reducing boredom, improving activity and their overall health. Always ensure that any climbing structures are securely anchored to avoid accidents or injuries.
These elevated spaces also give your pet the opportunity to bask in warm areas closer to different heights. Having more control over their own thermoregulation bearded dragons can attend to their own needs which they know how to do.
Hides, Rocks, and Natural Elements: Setting Up a Comfortable Home
Rocks are another winner for bearded dragons. Depending on how the rocks are placed, they can be great for basking, and they can be stacked in the cool zone as a hide. However, a cardboard box can do just as well as a hide.
Give your reptile a range of hiding options so that it can seek privacy when it feels the need.
Best Substrate Options: Creating a Safe and Clean Environment
The right substrate for your bearded dragon’s enclosure has a huge role in safety and cleanliness. One of the best and simplest of substrate options is tiles.
Tiles are super easy to clean and disinfect. They can retain heat, adding to the basking spots.
Avoid substrates like wood chips or loose gravel, as these can cause injuries or be swallowed, leading to serious health issues. For a more in-depth look, check out our full guide on choosing the best substrate.
Cleaning a Bearded Dragon Cage
A regular cleaning schedule is key to keeping your bearded dragon’s cage healthy and sanitary. Cleaning routines include daily and weekly cleaning.
The daily clean is mostly based on spot cleaning, whereas the weekly clean involves a deeper clean with disinfectant.
Regular cleaning helps control bacteria, prevents odor buildup, and reduces the risk of illnesses related to poor hygiene, such as respiratory infections. Avoid using harsh chemicals that could harm your bearded dragon, and always allow surfaces to dry completely before reintroducing your pet to the cage.
Maximizing Space in Your Bearded Dragon Cage: Why Bigger is Better
It’s not enough to talk about minimum size requirement; it’s about providing an environment where your reptile can flourish. Research has shown that reptiles need ample space to act naturally like basking, climbing, and exploring, which are essential for their overall health and wellbeing (Cannon, 2003; Middleton-Beck, 2015).
For adult and juvenile bearded dragons, a cage should measure at least 6 feet long to allow for proper movement and thermoregulation, although a bigger enclosure is always better.
Provide height as well. Vertical space for bearded dragons which are semi-arboreal allows them to climb as well. A height of at least 31 inches (80 cm) (Queensland Code of Practice) is recommended for add branches but higher can be good depending on the heating and lighting set up. Larger cages not only offer more physical and mental stimulation but also make it easier to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of harmful bacteria buildup. Ultimately, a spacious, well-ventilated, and secure bearded dragon cage is a leap towards ensuring your reptile lives a long, happy, and healthy life and you get to enjoy your time together.
References
Department of Environment and Science. (2020). Code of Practice.
Laidlaw, R. (2016). Scales and Tails The Welfare and Trade of Reptiles Kept as Pets in Canada. Prepared by Rob Laidlaw CBiol, MIBiol.
Middleton-Beck. BSc hons, PGDip CABC , D. (2015). See the World through Behavior. TheAnimal Behavior Management Alliance 2015 Annual Conference, 1–51.
Warwick, C., Grant, R., Steedman, C., Howell, T. J., Arena, P. C., Lambiris, A. J. L., Nash, A.-E., Jessop, M., Pilny, A., Amarello, M., Gorzula, S., Spain, M., Walton, A., Nicholas, E., Mancera, K., Whitehead, M., Martínez-Silvestre, A., Cadenas, V., Whittaker, A., & Wilson, A. (2021). Getting It Straight: Accommodating Rectilinear Behavior in Captive Snakes—A Review of Recommendations and Their Evidence Base. Animals, 11(5), 1459.
Whittaker, A. (2021, July 2). Snakes need to stretch, scientists say. School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences; University of Adelaide.
Wilkinson, S. L. (2015). Reptile Wellness Management. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 18(2), 281–304.
