Hello everyone! I recently adopted a what I believe to be a three year old male bearded dragon. My son and I named him Jeffy. He his 22 inches long from head to tail. I am looking to purchase a 120 gal tank. If it should be bigger, please let me know. I want to provide the best environment for him to thrive in. I have the correct UVB lighting, and basking lamp, however, I am receiving mixed information when it comes to diet. Some say kale is ok, others say to avoid it. His live animal protein is Dubia roached, and he gets about 4-5 of them daily along with his greens. The roaches I bought on the small side prior to getting him, because I wasn't sure what his size was at the time, and didn't want them to be too big. He is a darling, and I love seeing the little personality that devoting now that he is in a home with someone that has the time to care for him. I have had him for about two weeks and I have given him a
bath twice already, because I don't believe he had ever been bathed with his other owners. Same with nail care; I don't believe his nails were ever cared for either. We are taking it one step at a time, and making sure that he gets what he needs....and lots of love. Any suggestions or questions are welcome. I do have some knowledge when it comes to beardie care, but I welcome any advice from people with more experience.
Hi there, welcome to the forum!
First, let’s address enclosures. 120 gallons (4x2x2) is the minimum for an adult bearded dragon (unless severely stunted) though larger enclosures such as a 200 gallon (5x3x2) recommended.
A quick question, what substrate are you using? I’d strongly advise against using reptile carpet as it is a breeding ground for bacteria and the material can catch on his nails and cause injury.
Here is a list of substrates to use and substrates to avoid…
Use:
Non-adhesive shelf/cabinet liner - I personally use this (though I do intend to change soon) and I’ve got very little bad to say about it. It’s cheap, easy to clean, and completely safe. Only issue is crickets will eat it some times, lmao
Loose substrate mixture - this is the most recommended substrate as it allows bearded dragons to take part in their natural behaviours such as burrowing or digging, a 50/50 mix of play sand/sand substrate and reptisoil is what you should go for.
Tile/slate - never used this one but I hear good word about it. It’s relatively cheap, easy to clean and totally safe. Make sure it is waterproof (mandatory) and stain proof (optional) to avoid damage or messes.
Zen mats - these are a pretty great product. Unlike reptile carpet, it is a type of plastic (I think) that is easy to clean, won’t cause injury, and is completely safe.
Avoid:
Reptile carpet - as I mentioned a bit ago, reptile carpet is not the way to go. It is a breeding ground for bacteria, it stains easily, it takes FOREVER to dry and the material can catch on a bearded dragon’s nails.
Reptile bark - absolutely never use this stuff. Not only does it attract fungi and mold it also raises the humidity to a level unfit for bearded dragons. Need I say more?
Plain sand - just plain sand won’t cut it. In the wild a bearded dragon’s substrate is a mix of sand, soil, gravel, clay, and many other components. It is also more likely to catch on a bearded dragon’s tongue during feeding time and cause stomach problems
As for diet, let’s take a look?
A bearded dragon over the age of 12 months should be eating a salad/salads with a variety of greens and veggies daily and can eat 3-6 bugs 2-3 times a week. But how about staple greens? What should you use?
Kale
(Kale is completely safe. I’ve been using it for quite a while without issue.)
Collard greens
Mustard greens
Turnip greens
Cauliflower greens (not the head)
I hope this cleared a few things up, good luck to you and your son!
otherwise it assembled in 15 minutes. I cut a window into mine and framed it in because my boy loves to look outside. 
