Creating the perfect bearded dragon enclosure is key to keeping your pet healthy, comfortable, and happy. A well-thought-out enclosure replicates the bearded dragon’s natural environment, allowing them to thrive physically and mentally. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about building and maintaining the ideal enclosure for your bearded dragon—whether indoors or outdoors. From heating and lighting to accessories and layout, this guide will help you create the best home for your pet.
Indoor Bearded Dragon Enclosures
An indoor bearded dragon enclosure is a practical solution for most pet owners. Indoor enclosures give you control over the environment; it’s easy to monitor and manage temperature, humidity, and lighting with the right equipment. Whether you’re using a pre-built tank or designing a custom enclosure, the goal is to mimic your bearded dragon’s natural habitat as closely as possible.
Indoor enclosures must have proper ventilation and be big enough to create a temperature gradient inside the enclosure. This means providing a warm basking area (35-40°C / 95-104°F) and a cooler section (21°C / 70°F) so your bearded dragon can regulate its body temperature (Johnson & Adwick, 2018).
Outdoor Bearded Dragon Enclosures
Creating an outdoor bearded dragon enclosure can be a great way to give your pet access to natural sunlight, which provides the ideal UVB exposure. Outdoor enclosures allow your bearded dragon to experience a more natural environment, with the sun promoting healthy vitamin D3 production for strong bones (Jepson, 2011). Outdoor enclosures for bearded dragons are not a replacement for the indoor set-up; they fit perfectly into their care as an additional set-up.
However, there are important considerations for outdoor enclosures, such as protection from predators, opportunities for both sun and shade, and shelter from weather. The enclosure must be secure, offer both sunny and shaded areas, and have adequate ventilation. A portable outdoor bearded dragon enclosure will allow you to move it to the best spot for the day.
Bearded Dragon Enclosure Size
Cannon (2003) recommends that the enclosure for adult bearded dragons be at least 5 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 3.3 feet high (1.5 meters wide, 0.6 meters deep, and 1 meter high). While these are the minimum dimensions, it’s always better to go bigger if possible.
Juvenile bearded dragons need enclosures at least 4 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 2 feet high (1.2 meters wide, 0.6 meters deep, and 0.6 meters high). However, rather than going through the expense of buying another enclosure later, start with the enclosure size an adult bearded dragon needs.
No matter the age, a larger enclosure allows your bearded dragon more space to explore and feel comfortable—so remember, bigger is always better! (Cannon, 2003).
Keeping Bearded Dragons Together
Bearded dragons can be kept alone, in pairs (male and female), or in groups consisting of one male and several females. However, when kept together, the safety of each bearded dragon is entirely dependent on the size of the enclosure and habitat set-up.
House young bearded dragons individually or in small groups of four to five similarly sized juveniles (Stahl, 1999). Competition for food, heat and UVB can harm their health and wellbeing.
Lighting and Heating: Essential for Your Bearded Dragon Enclosure
One of the most important aspects of a proper bearded dragon enclosure is providing the best lighting and heating in the habitat. Bearded dragons are cold-blooded reptiles, which means they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. In the wild, they bask in the sun to warm up and seek shade to cool down, and your enclosure should offer the same.
Heating: To replicate this, you need to create a temperature gradient within the bearded dragon enclosure. The basking area should be between 35-40°C (95-104°F) during the day, while the cooler side should remain at around 21°C (70°F) (Cannon, 2003). A heat lamp or ceramic heat emitter is ideal for achieving this gradient, and it’s important to monitor the temperatures regularly using thermometers at both ends of the enclosure.
Lighting: Bearded dragons also need UVB light to synthesize vitamin D3, which helps them absorb calcium. Without proper UVB exposure, your bearded dragon can develop metabolic bone disease.
Place a UVB light over the basking area, about 15-45 cm from the highest point your dragon can reach, and make sure there’s no glass or plastic between the light and your dragon. UVB bulbs should be replaced every 6-12 months, even if they still emit visible light, as their UVB output diminishes over time.
For more information on how to set up lighting and heating, visit our Bearded Dragon Lighting and Heating Guide.
Must-Have Accessories for Your Bearded Dragon Enclosure
An enriching environment is just as important as the right temperatures and lighting in a bearded dragon enclosure. Bearded dragons are naturally curious and active, and providing them with accessories that mimic their wild habitat can keep them engaged and healthy.
Climbing Accessories: Bearded dragons love to climb! Adding sturdy branches, rocks, or logs gives them an opportunity to elevate themselves as they would in the wild (Johnson & Adwick, 2018). These accessories also allow them to bask closer to the heat and UVB light, which is important for their wellbeing.
Hides: Every bearded dragon enclosure should include at least one hide where your pet can retreat for privacy or to cool down. Bearded dragons use hides for refuge, to destress or just chill out.
Substrate: Choosing the right substrate is important for both hygiene, health and comfort. While there are many options, avoid loose substrates like sand or wood chips, which can cause impaction if ingested. Instead, opt for solid surfaces like ceramic tiles or paper towels that are easy to clean and safe for your pet.
Best Substrates for Bearded Dragon Enclosures
The best substrate for your bearded dragon enclosure is the one that supports its comfort and health. The substrate you choose will affect how easy the enclosure is to clean and whether or not your bearded dragon is at risk of certain health issues, such as impaction.
Solid Substrates: Solid surfaces are often the safest and easiest to maintain in a bearded dragon enclosure. Popular choices include ceramic tiles and paper towels. Tiles are easy to clean, and paper towels can be replaced. Additionally, solid substrates help create a more sanitary environment by preventing bacteria buildup.
Loose Substrates: While some pet owners opt for loose substrates like sand or bark, these materials can pose significant health risks. Loose substrates can be ingested while your bearded dragon eats or explores, leading to impaction (Wright, 2008). If you want to mimic the natural desert environment, you can provide a small digging area using fine, sifted play sand while keeping the rest of the enclosure lined with a solid substrate.
For more details on substrate options and recommendations, visit our Complete Substrate Guide for Bearded Dragons.
Keeping Your Bearded Dragon Enclosure Clean
The best bearded dragon enclosure is also a clean one; this is key to preventing illness. A well-kept environment reduces the risk of bacteria buildup. It ensures that your bearded dragon is living in a healthy space.
Daily Cleaning: Daily cleaning involves spot-cleaning the enclosure to remove any waste, uneaten food, and spilt water. Bearded dragons can defecate in their water bowls, so be sure to clean and refill water dishes daily to prevent bacteria from growing (Johnson & Adwick, 2018).
Weekly Maintenance: Once a week, take the time to wipe down surfaces within the bearded dragon enclosure using a reptile-safe cleaner. This includes cleaning any hides, rocks, or branches, as well as wiping the enclosure walls. If you’re using a solid substrate like paper towels or reptile carpet, this is a good time to replace it.
Monthly Deep Clean: Thoroughly clean the entire bearded dragon enclosure every month. Remove all accessories, scrub them down, and disinfect the enclosure itself. Be sure to rinse everything thoroughly before putting your bearded dragon back in the enclosure, as any cleaning product residues can be harmful to your pet. F10 is a great veterinary grade disinfectant that goes a long way. The standard dilution is suggested as 1:250 with water for optimal safety and effectiveness. Check the manufacturers instructions.
Regular cleaning not only keeps your enclosure looking great but also ensures your bearded dragon stays healthy.
For a detailed cleaning schedule and more tips, check out our Bearded Dragon Enclosure Cleaning Guide. For specific health issues such as Coccidia specialized cleaning is needed.
DIY Bearded Dragon Enclosures
If you like a DIY bearded dragon enclosure then the design is open to your imagination. DIY enclosures for bearded dragons can be great fun to create and every aspect of the housing can be customized.
DIY enclosures can often be larger and more versatile than store-bought options.
Materials for DIY enclosures:
- Perspex: Perspex is useful as a replacement for glass as it is easier to use at home simply due to the tools needed. It is easy to cut at home and less likely to cause injury if it breaks.
- Wooden Enclosures: Plywood or melamine are popular materials for building DIY enclosures. These materials are durable, provide good insulation, and allow for plenty of customization.
Design Tips for DIY cages:
Like with any housing, a DIY bearded dragon enclosure needs good ventilation. Cut out sections for mesh panels on the sides or top to allow for airflow. You’ll also need to ensure that the enclosure is escape-proof and easy to access for cleaning and maintenance.
With a little creativity, you can build a one-of-a-kind bearded dragon enclosure that suits your home and your pet’s needs and is a talking point for all your friends.
For step-by-step instructions, visit our DIY Bearded Dragon Enclosure Ideas Guide.
References
Cannon, M. J. (2003). Husbandry and veterinary aspects of the bearded dragon ( pogona spp. ) in Australia. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, 12(4), 205–214.
Johnson, R., & Adwick, S. (2018). Central Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Companion Animal Care and Welfare, Chapter 19, 395–411.
Stahl, S. J. (1999). General Husbandry and Captive Propagation of Bearded Dragons, Pogona vitticeps. Bulletin of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, 9(4), 12–17.
Wright, K. (2008). Two Common Disorders of Captive Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps): Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and Constipation. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 17(4), 267–272.