Setting Up a Tank for Your Bearded Dragon

Compared to canine and feline owners, the number of pet parents that have beardies is a lot less. We like to think this is because many of them are unaware of the advantages of raising these wonderful reptiles that are submissive and intelligent.

If you are interested in knowing the pros and cons of having this exotic animal as a pet, you can visit: https://animals.mom.com/pros-cons-owning-bearded-dragon-9743.html

For those thinking about raising this pet, there are many things to put into consideration. One of the essential things is providing the animal an idea home – a bearded dragon’s tank.

This is important because of the peculiarities of this animal as will be observed in several parts of this article. So, let us kick off with a little explanation on what a domesticated beardies habitant should look like.

What a Bearded Dragon’s Habitat should look like?

An ideal beardies environment should imitate what is obtainable in the wild. If possible, the tank should be a bioactive one that helps the pet function at an optimum level.

Well, to really understand what is expected, you should be aware of what is obtainable in the wild. This special kind of lizard is mainly situated in the southern desert part of Australia. They function better during the daytime when they get the needed heat and sunlight.

The sunlight is very crucial to their existence since it supplies the much-needed vitamin D3. This vitamin helps aid their digestion and supplies calcium needed by this animal.

So, the right amount of heat and light supply is very important as will be explained subsequently in this article.

Getting a Bearded Dragon’s Tank up and Running

To get the beardies tank up and running, you have to ensure that the enclosure is convenient and contributes to the wellbeing of the reptile.

The latter is very important as a poorly set enclosure can affect the health of the animal. For instance, the beardies can begin to experience a decline in health and face more complicated situations if it does not get the needed UVB light ray.

Given the importance of having your bearded dragon in the right environment, listed and explained below are some of the things to consider:

The Appropriate Substrate

The simplest way we can explain the substrate is the composition of the tank’s cage floor. There are various options you can go for. Some of them include paper towels, sand, tiles… and several others.

Whichever option you go for, you should ensure that it is safe for your animal and does not constitute any form of danger. An example can be seen with sand.

You can endanger your pet by using the wrong kind of sand. This is because the dusty and sticky composition of the sand can be ingested by the animal, blocking the digestive tracts.

While sand is not a bad option, you have to be particular about the kind of sand you opt for. The ideal sand should not be sticky but fine, causing less dust formation. You can just go for fine play sand. Or better still, there are treated reptile sands that can be purchased and used.

Should you choose to use sand, we strongly recommend adding something extra in creating the best habitat for your bearded dragon. A good option is coconut coir.

Another substrate option is tile. Many beardies owners love this option as it is more civilized and easy to maintain. However, there could be a problem with having a slippery environment if the right tile is not used. So, we suggest you use a tile that feels rocky for the best experience.

Heating and Lighting Up the Tank

Frankly, nothing badly affects your bearded dragon more than a poorly lit and heated tank. For this reason, you should be deliberate about having your beardies tank with this feature intact. On that note, you need to pay attention to the following things:

Get a Heat Lamp

The heat lamp is essential in getting your pet in the right shape. For instance, if your bearded dragon’s food is not well heated, s/he will be disinterested in eating. This is regardless of how sumptuous it is.

And just in case you can get it to eat, digestion will be very difficult without the right amount of heat in the tank. Furthermore, your exotic companion can develop several health complications without the right amount of heat.

Get a UVB Light

Why bother about a UVB light when you already have a heat lamp?

The essence is to offer beneficial UVB ray light just as the sun does. While the heating lamp offers the needed heat, it is unable to offer the very important UVB rays. So, to make up for this inability, you need a coiled or tube UVB light.

If you cannot get a product that illuminates the entire tank space, ensure that the light ray is focused right over the preferred spot of your beardies.

The Light and Heat Should be Fitting for Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank

It is good to provide as much space as possible for your beardies. This is because it improves the activity level and overall wellbeing of the animal.

But while you are creating the needed space, it should not be at the expense of the heating and lighting setup of the tank. This simply means that the tank needs to be properly heated and illuminated by the heat lamp and UVB light respectively.

A larger tank will require more heat and illumination and this should be considered before getting a tank.

Essential Decorations

We strongly suggest that you make the tank as natural as possible. However, we advise that you do not overdo it. For one, this is so that cleaning the tank will not be difficult.

Some of the essential decorations you can opt for include natural and/or artificial plants, rocks, branches, water bowl(s), and some other items.

Items like the branch can help ensure the bearded dragon makes the most of the basking area. By climbing the branch, the pet will be close to the UVB and heat lamp.

If you use a branch, you must disinfect the item. This is to protect your pet from the dangerous items that may have come along with it. You can go about disinfection by boiling or baking it. For more information on bearded dragon’s housing, you can read this article.

Wrap Up

A bearded dragon’s emotional and physical wellbeing is largely determined by its housing condition. Bearing this in mind, we have shared relevant information on how to set up the ideal tank for your reptile pet.

We strongly advise that you adhere to the things shared here as they will ensure that your beardies live better and function at an optimal level.