Bearded Dragons
How to Set Up a Bearded Dragon Enclosure: Complete Guide
How to Set Up a Bearded Dragon Enclosure
A proper enclosure is the foundation of bearded dragon health. This guide covers everything from tank size to heating, UVB, substrate, and feeding setup — step by step for beginners.
Tank Size
| Age | Minimum Size | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Baby (0-6 mo) | 40 gallon | 40 gallon (upgrade later) |
| Juvenile-Adult | 75 gallon | 120 gallon (4x2x2 foot) |
Bigger is always better for bearded dragons. They are active lizards that use every inch of space you give them. A 4x2x2 foot enclosure is increasingly considered the standard for adult beardies.
Heating
- Basking spot: 100-110°F — use a basking bulb (halogen flood lamp recommended)
- Warm side: 85-90°F
- Cool side: 75-80°F
- Night: Can drop to 65-70°F (no heating needed unless your house is colder)
Use a digital thermometer with probes at basking level and cool side. Adhesive strip thermometers are inaccurate — do not rely on them.
UVB Lighting (Non-Negotiable)
Bearded dragons require UVB light for calcium absorption and vitamin D3 production. Without proper UVB, calcium supplementation is largely wasted and MBD develops.
- Bulb type: T5 HO (high output) linear fluorescent — not compact/coil bulbs
- Length: Should cover 2/3 to 3/4 of the enclosure length
- Placement: Follow manufacturer's distance recommendations (typically 10-12 inches for T5 HO)
- Replace: Every 6-12 months (UVB output degrades before the bulb burns out)
- No glass/plastic between bulb and basking spot — these filter UVB
Substrate
- Beginners: Paper towel, tile, or reptile carpet — easy to clean, no impaction risk
- Advanced: Bioactive setup with topsoil/sand mix, isopods, and springtails — self-cleaning, naturalistic
- Avoid: Loose sand, calcium sand, walnut shell — impaction risk for juveniles
Decor and Hides
- Basking platform: Flat rock or branch under the basking light
- Hide (cool side): At least one enclosed hide on the cool end
- Climbing structures: Branches, hammocks, cork bark — beardies are semi-arboreal
- Food/water dishes: Shallow dish for vegetables, separate feeding area for insects
Feeding Setup
Stock up on feeders before bringing your beardie home:
- Daily staple: Discoid roaches (small for babies, large for adults)
- Supplements: Silkworms, BSFL, hornworms
- Calcium + D3 powder and multivitamin
- Fresh vegetables: Collard greens, squash, bell peppers
Read our Complete Bearded Dragon Diet Guide for detailed feeding schedules.
Setup Checklist
- ☐ 75+ gallon enclosure with screen top
- ☐ Basking lamp (100-110°F at basking spot)
- ☐ T5 HO UVB bulb (covering 2/3 of enclosure)
- ☐ Digital thermometer with probes
- ☐ Substrate (paper towel for beginners)
- ☐ Basking platform + cool side hide
- ☐ Shallow food dish + water dish
- ☐ Feeder insects + calcium/vitamin supplements
- ☐ Fresh vegetables (collard greens, squash)
Set up everything and let temperatures stabilize 24-48 hours before adding your beardie.
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
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