How To Build A Bearded Dragon Enclosure
If you are planning to get a bearded dragon, you’d probably be wondering where you should keep it. Obviously, you can’t allow it to wander around your house. On the other hand, you too can’t just simply keep it in any container. A bearded dragon requires a specific space due to its size. Hence we are here to assist you in making a bearded dragon enclosure to ensure that the container you put him in is suitable for his well being. After all, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t get curious about our title.
Here’s what you’ll need;
Bearded Dragon Tanks
Before we talk about how you could build your bearded dragon enclosure, there are some things that you should know. A bearded dragon is able to grow up to its full length by the age of 1 year, which is approximately 16-24 inches long. During the second year, it will increase by another two more inches. With this kept in mind, you would need to get a bearded dragon enclosure that is big enough to contain it. The ideal tank size for a bearded dragon would be 4 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet., which would be roughly 55 to 120 gallons in size.
Do note that it’s never wrong to get something more significant. You should only worry if your enclosure is unable to fit your bearded dragon in the long run. Buying a whole new setup will cost way too much.
Buying Bearded Dragon
There are many places where you can buy your bearded dragon. Don’t be afraid to hit your nearest pet store, as they are bound to have a bearded dragon that is in healthy condition. In a case where your local store doesn’t provide it, you can try looking for it online. Though, this is not suggested as there are many frauds when purchasing online. Hence if you must do so, be sure that you do a background check before purchasing your bearded dragon. Ensure that the seller is reputable.
As for the price, a bearded dragon ranges from 120 dollars to as much as 300 dollars depending on rarity and pigment. As a beginner, we strongly advise that you get one which is much cheaper.
Bearded Dragon Cage Setup
At this point, you should be familiarized with your bearded dragon, and it’s time for you to build its enclosure. Well, definitely, we would be needing a tank for it.
Container
We already briefly explained about tank dimensions already, but what about material and sustainability? Well, you won’t have to worry about getting acrylic or plastic made containers. Unlike box turtles, these reptiles won’t bang themselves against the glass. As a matter of fact, they are actually pretty inactive to some. Due to its large size, it is likely that it would refrain from moving much inside the bearded dragon enclosure. Glass will be ideal as it has the clearest surface for you to observe your bearded dragon.
Imagine coming home from work to see your bearded dragon relaxing in its enclosure. You wouldn’t even need to do much as it requires minimum attention. Though, we aren’t asking you to neglect it altogether.
Decorating
There are actually many ways you could decorate your bearded dragon terrarium. However, unlike other animals, the bearded dragon enclosure has to be kept dry but humid. Bearded dragons are found in many places but usually wander around drier parts of the world. They usually rest on large rocks.
Hence, we would suggest that you have objects in your bearded dragon enclosure for it to stay on. You’d be surprised that they spend an awful lot of time on them. Such items include tree branches, solid stones. To make your enclosure more interesting, try adding in some backgrounds that represent its natural habitat; not only does it help your bearded dragon get used to its environment but also soothing to the eye itself.
Due to the preference for being dry, large plants are certainly out of the question. However, that does not mean plants aren’t allowed. Your bearded dragon is kept in a confined space; it would need oxygen to breathe. In that case, you can consider getting small ferns or mosses to accompany it. Although it isn’t much, at least air can be circulated.
Lighting And Temperature
Ensure that the lighting and temperature in your bearded dragon enclosure are kept constant. Did you know that bearded dragons require 12 hours of daylight and night light on cycle? In such cases, you would need to invest in an artificial light that can satisfy its needs. These lights do not necessarily need to be installed on the top. It can be any lamp that shines onto the enclosure itself. However, if you must, you can also get premade lights that are installed to the enclosure itself from pet stores.
On the other hand, it is essential that your bearded dragon lives in constant warmth. Due to it being cold-blooded, if the temperature drops beneath its living condition, it will enter hibernation. Hibernation is part of their life cycle; however, if it happens too sudden, health problems may occur. Hence if you live in colder parts of the continent, do consider getting a heater to accompany your cute little fella.
Conclusion
With that, everything is pretty much in place. Hopefully, by reading our article, were you able to learn how to build a bearded dragon enclosure. We can’t tell you how much it will cost to care for it for a year or two, however, we can tell you that it would be worth your time. However, a friendly reminder is to only care for these little beings if you can. You wouldn’t want to destroy its life just because you do not have the time and financial capabilities to care for it. Until then, consider and research more about it.