Enclosure size

[Maltier]

Hello! I have been seeing a lot of videos about how pet store enclosures are very bad for beardies whether they are too small or something else. I got my tank from PetSmart and was just wondering what the minimum size should be for an adult bearded dragon. I've had this tank for years but wondered if I was actually harming my baby. I think it's about 50 gallons though. 3' W. 1.5' H. 1.5' D

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello! I have been seeing a lot of videos about how pet store enclosures are very bad for beardies whether they are too small or something else. I got my tank from PetSmart and was just wondering what the minimum size should be for an adult bearded dragon. I've had this tank for years but wondered if I was actually harming my baby. I think it's about 50 gallons though. 3' W. 1.5' H. 1.5' D

Optimal size for adult is 4x2x2 120 gallon-- If you get your dragon out a lot he can stay in the 50 gallon but I would recommend the 120 - dragons like floor space - I have lots of links for tanks if you would like to shop for one

 

[ChileanTaco]

I would also strongly recommend the 120 gallon at minimum. For comparison, in some countries (e.g. Germany), even larger enclosures are required by law.

Taking your dragon out often can be helpful with letting him move around, but a larger tank size also makes it easier to get the correct temperature gradient, so your dragon can bask at hot placed but similarly can go to cooler places. Also, likely you will see your dragon behaving more relaxed in a larger tank, not constantly begging and scratching to want out, but just staying in there relaxed "at home".

 

[xp29]

The truth is, as big as you have room for or can afford. Beardies will use all the room you offer them. So the bigger the better. 4x2x2 is the minimum an adult should be in.

 

[Maltier]

I would also strongly recommend the 120 gallon at minimum. For comparison, in some countries (e.g. Germany), even larger enclosures are required by law.

Taking your dragon out often can be helpful with letting him move around, but a larger tank size also makes it easier to get the correct temperature gradient, so your dragon can bask at hot placed but similarly can go to cooler places. Also, likely you will see your dragon behaving more relaxed in a larger tank, not constantly begging and scratching to want out, but just staying in there relaxed "at home".

Okay thank you so much! I do take him out a lot. But, I don't have enough money for a new tank right now, but I definitely will purchase one for him when I have the money, thank you again!

 

[Claudiusx]

A 40g breeder has long been used as the standard "minimum" size for an adult dragon. You have a 40g breeder. That ends up being a 36''x18''x18'' tank. We keep confusing suggested bests and opinions with facts. A full grown adult dragon will do just fine in a 40g breeder tank. It will do just fine in a 120g tank too.

A 4x2x2 (120g) is ideal as it gives more space, obviously. And anything in between a 40g breeder and a 120g tank is great. It is not a requirement. Like Xp said though, if you can afford the space, it's an upgrade from the 40g breeder.

-Brandon

 

[Claudiusx]

Moved by Moderator from Advanced Discussion to Enclosures

 

[Bearded dragon lover]

I use a 76 gallon tank 24x24x44. But even with the huge amount of space he barely uses the space. He seems to hate the ground. He always stays on his high elevated structures. I could add even more ground space to my enclosure yet he would still prefer to stay in his two favorite spots. The one log on the left and the top on the right.

 

[Bearded dragon lover]

If he needs to cross from one side to another he simply used the ghost branch that connect the two structures

 

[ChileanTaco]

Mine is also not much on the ground. For this reason, I have outfitted my dragon's enclosure (larger than a 120 g) with a lot of different elevated spaces. What he uses on the ground, however, are caves, niches... He uses several caves, he dug a burrow behind an aloe plant, he squeezes in between the wall and a branch.
Really walking around on the ground, I only see him to access food and to access the place he always poops. And then, he either goes up or into some hiding space.
So, he uses the space, but just not with walking around on the floor.

If he needs to cross from one side to another he simply used the ghost branch that connect the two structures

Mine would also do so for sure! (There is a long structure towards the back of the enclosure, from which he can access one towards the right.)

Typical Taco routine: He comes out of one of his caves, goes up, basks (one of two spots) while looking out of the window or might watch a fish tank (towards the left), then might jump down to access food or to poop, then climbs up again looking out of the window. When it's time for sleeping, >90% chance he goes into one of his caves (other 10%: sleeps at his basking spot after looking out of the window long after the lights are out, and is then active very early on).

 

[Bearded dragon lover]

Would you mine posting a pic of your enclosure?

 

[ChileanTaco]

Yes, I do so. I'm just looking for one that shows it complete - I opted for some to give an impression of how it looks like.

The climbing structures, I built them on my own.
The large branch is from a pet store (I live in a desert city, collecting larger pieces of wood is impossible as of no trees). Stones, small branch in front of a cave and sand are here from the desert. All plants are real.
Enclosure is fully glass (made-to-order from a glass company), and I made the lid (with hinges, frame with wide-hole mesh) on my own. Reason is that here in the country no reptile tanks at a nearly sufficient size are available, and the ways too small ones are still very expensive. Keeping reptiles is very unusual here. (I tried looking for used fish tanks but nothing of that size within months, so I started asking around glass companies and was surprised by the affordable price.)

 

[Sue E.]

Would you mine posting a pic of your enclosure?

Here is mine, 48x24x24, bioactive. Well, kind of bioactive...he keeps digging up his plants lol. Kai likes his trees too, and he likes the ledge right under the center branch. He pretty much only uses the ground to poop and to beg for bugs.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Wanted to add:
My dragon doesn't like caves that have a wide opening and are easily accessible. The one with the branch in front, he first didn't like it very much - without the branch. He only used it fully awake. I then tried adding the branch, and in an instant this became his favorite cave for sleeping, and he also now brumates in there. (Before, he preferred to sleep behind an aloe, actually between aloe and back wall in a burrow he dug out; he also brumated there for his first brumation.)

 

[Sue E.]

Wanted to add:
My dragon doesn't like caves that have a wide opening and are easily accessible. The one with the branch in front, he first didn't like it very much - without the branch. He only used it fully awake. I then tried adding the branch, and in an instant this became his favorite cave for sleeping, and he also now brumates in there. (Before, he preferred to sleep behind an aloe, actually between aloe and back wall in a burrow he dug out; he also brumated there for his first brumation.)

Kai wont use the built-in cave under the ledge in the pic..yet. He only goes in there to quickly check for isopods. He sleeps all over, mostly in his tree or on one of his ledges. We'll see what happens next brumation season.