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Bearded Dragon Setup
- Courtney Roten
- Jan 29, 2023
- 4 min read
Bearded Dragons are a popular exotic pet option! But they are not a beginners pet, regardless of what your local pet store may say. Dragons require very specific care to thrive and survive.
Get your setup right before you get your dragon
This is extremely important! A bearded dragon does not make a good impulse buy pet because their care is critical for their health. Loving them isn't enough. If you spend hundreds on a dragon but don't provide the right care, all of the love in the world won't help your dragon thrive. I have a very helpful setup video on youtube which you can view here:
Without a doubt the most important is a GOOD UVB, t5 10 or 12% desert uvb fixture and bulb (preferably arcadia). These are best if installed inside of the tank and within 12-18 inches of the basking spot. Some prefer they only cover half the tank, but I prefer mine cover the majority of the tank length. If you are able, I highly recommend having a uvb meter to measure the uvb output. This ensures your dragon is getting the best care and can also save you money. If you cannot or decide not to purchase a uvb meter, it is recommended you replace your uvb bulb once a year at least! They can last longer or shorter, like any light bulb, so having that uvb meter is critical and will ease your mind so you know your setup is ideal.
Get the meter on amazon here: https://amzn.to/3wHimM5
The size and type of tank I recommend, and what is required, will differ. I'll go over both. Required is minimum of 40 gallons. It can be made of glass, pvc, etc. You will need a basking lamp and the uvb we discussed above. I recommend a zen habitats tank, which you can find here: https://www.zenhabitats.com/ or finding someone local who can build you a pvc tank! Always check their current lead times before ordering and be aware that there ARE SCAMMERS out there, even when its pretending to sell or build enclosures!
Once you have your uvb and enclosure, you need a heat source for the basking spot. Some enclosures come with this, some do not, so be sure to find that information out from the enclosure manufacturer. You will need a heat gun to check the basking temp and digital thermostats for checking the ambient temps. You'll find many that are sold on amazon come in 2 packs because it's a good practice to have one on the cool side and the warm side. You'll hear me mention a basking spot a lot and I'm simply referencing the place where your dragon will bask in the uvb and heat. Temps for younger dragons should be around 100 degrees and no more than 108 degrees when measured with the temp gun. On the cool side, your ideal temperature is between 75 and 80 degrees. They need a hide that their entire body can fit in so they can escape the heat and uvb as needed.
Find a temperature gun example here: https://amzn.to/3Y8YdtN
You should have something in the basking spot that absorbs the heat so your dragon can lounge in this spot and digest their food properly (wood, stone, etc.). A dragon needs to be in their tank with uvb available for at least 2 hours after eating. This means you shouldn't feed them outside of their tank nor right before their lights go off (I'll cover this more in a bearded dragon diet post). A soft hammock or blanket is not sufficient in the basking spot and those items should be on the cool side. The cool side (for reference) is the side of the tank that is opposite of the heat bulb end.
You'll need to choose a substrate for your tank. If your dragon is less than 5 months old, then I recommend using paper towels for a substrate as they are easily replaceable so you can keep the enclosure clean much easier. These are some examples of different substrates I recommend: Tile, paper towels, non-adhesive cabinet liner, stone, ect. If you have a dragon over 5 months old, I highly recommend incorporating lose substrate. Lose substrate is best if made of 50% play sand and 50% top soil. I prefer to do this on parts of my enclosure and use tile over most of them so they have options for different surfaces. This also provides good enrichment, as dragons love to dig! You may hear old rumors that still circulate saying lose substrate causes impaction. This may have been true when people were using t8s instead of t5s for their uvb source. There may still be cases but it is only accurate if the dragons enclosure is not correct. If you set it up correctly, you have nothing to worry about!
Give you dragon enrichment
Surviving and thriving are two different things. Read that again.
Dragons love to dig and climb! In the wild you will often find them hanging on trees, basking on rocks, or laying on fence posts. The regulate their temperature through their environment so having different levels will give them more control over that! They know what they need so if they need more uvb, they can climb closer to it by getting higher up! I love to use safe wood to offer climbing levels. Also, I like to use big rocks and these handy little baskets which you can find at the dollar tree.
You'll notice how I offer the loose substrate and tile in this enclosure example. This is how 90% of my tanks are setup but each vary slightly.
If you choose to include fake plants, keep a close eye on your dragon as some of them are more curious than others and may take a big bite which can cause impaction or illness. I offer a corner planter that you can hang in your enclosure to offer fresh microgreens for enrichment, which you can purchase in our etsy store, here:
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