Downgrade Terrarium?

[Colbycheese]

Hi! It’s been nearly 2 years since I’ve posted here, and Colby is still with me. When I got him, I had him put in an 80-ish gallon tank ever since he was around 5 inches (I know a smaller tank is better for younger dragons, but that’s what we had at the time).

The 80 gallon was previously used as a fish tank, so it has a wooden stand + wooden top with doors to access the inside. I’m glad he had a lot of room to grow in, but he doesn’t use a lot of the room.

As far as his health goes, I’m pretty confident that he’s healthy. He’s very calm and used to humans, he has never bitten me (only once or twice during feeding when he was a baby), and has never black bearded as far as I know.

The main thing I dislike about his current tank are the top doors. I’ve always really wanted a terrarium with front opening doors, and the top doors are the reason I rarely take him out of his tank.

So I was wondering if it would be fine if I had gotten a 40 gallon terrarium with front opening doors for him to replace his 80 gallon. I know 55-75 gallon or more is definitely best for an adult (he’s around 18 inches), but it’s difficult for me to take him out and feed him with the top wooden doors.

So if I had gotten a smaller but easier to use tank, I’d take him out very often (which he enjoys and I really want to be able to do), it would basically be trading a large tank and not a lot of outside time for a smaller tank and a lot of outside time.

Getting a smaller tank would also be better for my room, his 80gal takes up a lot of space since it has it’s own stand.

Thoughts?

 

[DorgEndo]

It is medically necessary for a bearded dragon in captivity to spend the majority of their time in their enclosure. Heat and UVB to properly digest. Being safe all night and when unsupervised.

I think there are alternatives to the issues you have stated. Keeping the enclosure the same use a towel to help take him out, the towel gives more grip than your skin so it should be easier on both of you to take him out. You could build, buy, commission, or something to get a new front door opening enclosure that has storage options below the enclosure.

 

[Colbycheese]

It is medically necessary for a bearded dragon in captivity to spend the majority of their time in their enclosure. Heat and UVB to properly digest. Being safe all night and when unsupervised.

I think there are alternatives to the issues you have stated. Keeping the enclosure the same use a towel to help take him out, the towel gives more grip than your skin so it should be easier on both of you to take him out. You could build, buy, commission, or something to get a new front door opening enclosure that has storage options below the enclosure.

I actually do use a towel whenever I take him out, and it’s definitely a lot easier.
I didn’t mean having him outside of his tank all day (just more often), I know the importance of letting him bask and digest. I’ll think about what you suggested- thank you!

 

[KarrieRee]

yes I would not downgrade to something that small -- its going to really be a drastic change -- have you looked on FB marketplace or craigslist for another tank or even considered getting a new one? Downgrading to a 75 or 120 would be better - would not be as drastic --