My Advice for all new owners purchasing Vivs

[Zanna]

Just my two cents if your a first time buyer of any enclosure for your beautiful new baby, or older new dragon:
Whatever size or type of materials your enclosure is made of, do yourself and your beardie a favor and buy it with access from the front and NOT the top.

Not only is the lighting more pure but your beardie will appreciate not being grabbed out of the top. Cleaning, feeding, habitat changing and every other hundred things we do in a day with our dragon kids is much more accessible and requires less hassle

 

[CooperDragon]

This is good advice. Front facing doors are a huge advantage, especially when working with larger enclosures.

 

[RockysMom]

This is good advice. Front facing doors are a huge advantage, especially when working with larger enclosures.

Agreed. Wish I had this advice way back when. Would have made things much easier.

 

[CooperDragon]

I would have made my own tank (or rather, paid someone to custom build my own tank) if I had to do it again. At the time, the Exo Terra seemed enormous after moving from a 20g but now it seems so small for an adult dragon.

 

[Zanna]

I wish I had had this advice too . Hoping it helps someone else lol.

I am noticing how much more Lizzy enjoys getting in and out of her cage, in fact she comes to me after less than a week of sliding doors. She almost climbed onto me herself.

The mesh tops really change the enclosure lighting as well so yeah, I'll never have anything but a "front loader again lol

 

[Lpsouth1978]

I hate to be the odd man out, but here it goes. While I do agree that a front opening enclosure is ideal, it is not the most cost effective way to house a beardie. It is almost impossible to find a quality front opening viv used and in good shape, and not everyone can afford a new one.

I LOVE craigslist and the deals that can be found on it. I recently found a 125g aquarium for $100. It is tall enough that I do not need a screen top on it (as long as the tank furnishings are not too tall) and Yoda LOVES the extra space.

If I was to give any word of advice on an enclosure, it would be the same as that given to new reef owners... get the largest enclosure you can afford and have space for. I know that a 40b is big enough for an adult beardie, but it is barely large enough. Bigger is always better for an adult. , IMO.

Just my $0.02.

 

[JessPets]

I hate to be the odd man out, but here it goes. While I do agree that a front opening enclosure is ideal, it is not the most cost effective way to house a beardie. It is almost impossible to find a quality front opening viv used and in good shape, and not everyone can afford a new one.

I LOVE craigslist and the deals that can be found on it. I recently found a 125g aquarium for $100. It is tall enough that I do not need a screen top on it (as long as the tank furnishings are not too tall) and Yoda LOVES the extra space.

If I was to give any word of advice on an enclosure, it would be the same as that given to new reef owners... get the largest enclosure you can afford and have space for. I know that a 40b is big enough for an adult beardie, but it is barely large enough. Bigger is always better for an adult. , IMO.

Just my $0.02.

True, but I built my enclosure for around $100 or less, so it really isn't too bad

 

[Lpsouth1978]

If you are even a little bit handy, that might work. My last attempt to build a simple box yielded a trapezoid. Haha

 

[JessPets]

If you are even a little bit handy, that might work. My last attempt to build a simple box yielded a trapezoid. Haha

:lol: It actually wasn't too hard to get everything right, and I was very happy on how it turned out.

 

[Zanna]

I hear ya South, it took us a while to find an affordable one it's true. But ohhhhhhhh so happy we did!

 

[Gormagon]

If you are even a little bit handy, that might work. My last attempt to build a simple box yielded a trapezoid. Haha

As long as it works a trapizoid will be fine and unique :wink: !