Choosing The Essential Bearded Dragon Equipment

I love my pets! They give me happiness and put a smile on my face—they are heaven’s gift to me—which is why I make sure that they feel loved and cared for all the time. My bearded dragon in particular needs extra attention since it is not accustomed to living in captivity. Hence, the right bearded dragon equipments are vital for its well-being and health.

Enclosure or cage

The best enclosure for your dragon would be a glass tank with a tight-fitting screen lid; but a cage made of wood or melamine is also being used by other dragon owners. However, a cage made of wires is not safe and suitable for your reptile as this type does not preserve heat very well and may also cause injury to your dragon.

An ideally sized enclosure would be at least 48″ long, 24″ wide, and 18” high. If you opt to use a glass enclosure then 50-gallon aquarium will suffice, but if you are able to get a bigger one, then that would be much better.

Heat-emitting equipments

Bearded dragons love heat—they are naturally desert and dry land dwellers. Heat does not only give them comfort but it also keeps them healthy. The ideal daytime tank temperature for your dragon is 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit but you must also provide them with a basking site that has a relatively higher temperature (about 10 degrees higher).

At night you can then lower the tank’s temperature to 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit since your bearded dragon’s body is designed to withstand cooler nights. There are many heat-emitting types of equipment in the market, among which are ceramic heat lamps and under-tank heat mats. However, these devices must be used with digital thermometers to prevent them from causing burns to your reptiles.

UV Bulbs

Not only does your bearded dragon need heat, but it also needs light. And the light they need is not just any light but UVB or ultraviolet B light. This type of light can naturally be obtained from the sun but since your reptile spends most of its hours inside a tank, it will need to have another source of this light component.

And you may ask why this light is so important to them. Well, like many other reptiles, bearded dragons need Vitamin D3 in order to properly metabolize and absorb calcium. This particular vitamin is produced by your bearded dragon’s skin when it is exposed to UVB light;

and it has no other way of obtaining it. Hence, without UVB light, your dragon will most likely suffer from a condition called Metabolic Bone Disorder, a disease that involves weakening of the bones due to inadequate calcium deposition. UVB can be obtained by your reptile through specialty bulbs like full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs and mercury vapor bulbs.

Humidifier

Good ventilation is also crucial for your bearded dragon. Hence, they would also need some form of humidification. The ideal humidity levels in your dragon’s tank would be 40% to 60% RH, and this can be achieved with the help of high-performance commercial humidifiers like the Super Fog and Zoo Med Reptile Fogger or you can also make your own humidifier.

Tank Furniture

This comprises items like dishes, hide boxes, climbing materials and ornamental plants. These objects will make your reptile feel that it is living in its normal habitat. However, you must be careful in choosing these items; you will have to make sure that they are sturdy and safe.

Bearded Dragon Setups