How to Choose the Best Bearded Dragon Enclosure in 2022

A healthy and properly cared for bearded dragon can live for a very long time.

Bearded dragons naturally dwell in hot and dry areas and so your goal should be to replicate this environment so that they can survive easily and stay healthy.

Making the right choice can be difficult as the number of products will overwhelm you and that is why I created this article to guide you on the best products you can choose from.

The Best Bearded Dragon Enclosures

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The Best Bearded Dragon Enclosure Overall

This Bearded Dragon Enclosure is made by the reputable Carolina Designer Dragons that are known for their breeding of healthy bearded dragons.

This terrarium prides itself as one of the best accommodations you can give to your pet dragon.

Its assembly is pretty easy and you don’t need any experience to couple this enclosure together.

Your pet’s enclosure also features several grommets around its perimeter so your pet’s dinner doesn’t escape.

A perfect description of durability and sturdiness, you will definitely save more in the long run with this product and what’s more?

It doesn’t cost so much despite all its amazing features.

Pros

• It is very easy to assemble
• Has enough space inside
• Large doors of sliding design to allow you much access to your pet
• Good security
• Very durable
• Provision for electrical wiring

Cons

• The dimensions of the terrarium can be a bit to much for a baby dragon

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The Best Enclosure for Juvenile Beardies

The Best Enclosure for Juvenile Beardies provides adequate comfort for your pet and allows you to install various devices you will need to make your pet more comfortable.

It has a full-screen top with a feeding hole, which is for ventilation and allows light and UVB penetration.

The removable top mesh screen provides plenty of ventilation for optimum airflow and allows full-spectrum, and good UVB light penetration.

There is also a flexible side vent that can be positioned as needed.

The bottom glass panel of the terrarium was created to aid the mounting of a substrate heater or heat cable.

Pros

• The large front opening doors open independently of each other
• The top screen allows UVB penetration
• Window ventilation is present
• Cable Pass Included

Cons

• It takes a little time to assemble
• Has just one key to the door lock

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The Best Bearded Dragon Enclosure Starter Kit

This is another great product from Zoo Med and the starter kit includes a 20-gallon terrarium, such as light and heat fixtures, food, dishes, and sand for the bottom of the terrarium.

When buying this enclosure starter kit, the only thing you would need to buy outside of this is food and a couple of extra hideouts for your beardie.

Outside of that, this starter kit is a pretty good deal for a baby bearded dragon.

You will need to buy a bigger tank when the beardie grows into a large adult. 

Pros

• Includes everything that you need to get started with a beardie
• The dual front doors allow for ease of access
• You can use it immediately after unpacking as it comes fully assembled besides the accessories

Cons

• Due to its small size, a fully grown bearded dragon can’t stay here for long

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The Best Bearded Dragon Temporary Enclosure

Last on our best bearded dragon enclosures is the Exo Terra Faunarium which makes it great for temporary housing or quarantine.

Ideally created to transport terrarium reptiles or live foods.

It comes equipped with a handle for easy carrying, and the top clear window opens for simple removal or placing of animals inside.

The Exo Terra Faunarium is stackable, easy to clean and disinfect.

Pros

• Stackable plastic
• Transparent plastic door for easy access
• Perfect for transportation

Cons

• Can only be used for transportation or temporary housing

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Materials for Bearded Dragon Enclosures

1. Glass Tanks

Glass is a common material used in the construction of bearded dragon enclosures.

It is not the perfect type of construction as the sizes are usually small and lack of airflow is common.

Such a condition in combination with humidity and high temperatures makes your pet susceptible to respiratory diseases amongst other illnesses.

2. Melamine Enclosures

These enclosures are made out of melamine board and their disadvantage is the ease at which the wood gets warped.

This occurs if moisture compromises the layer between the wood finish and the wood itself.

You can avoid this by sealing off all edges and making sure moisture doesn’t get in.

If properly sealed and moisture has no way of getting in, the melamine enclosures are great choices as they allow your pet to have more room and there is enough ventilation too.

Using aquarium grade silicon as the sealant is perfect and it shuts out corners for unwanted pathogens to grow in.

If you want to purchase already made enclosures of this kind, you will see that they do not come in large sizes.

But you can build yours by yourself to your taste very easily by purchasing the panels at the hardware store.

You can alternatively purchase a kit pantry cupboard from the hardware store and convert it into an enclosure for your bearded dragon by adding perspex or doors.

If you are in an area of a hot climate, then one door made of wire can be used to allow for maximum ventilation.

But if you are in a cold-weather environment, a perspex door would do.

When using a wire for the door, make sure that it is not sharp as your pet dragon would love to climb and may get injured.

You can also purchase vents from the hardware store and install them if the ones you have from your already made enclosure isn’t enough.

3. PVC or ABS

The design and function of these types of enclosures are very similar to those of melamine enclosures but the difference is the weight.

Enclosures of PVC are lighter and more expensive due to the material used in their construction.

So this is probably not a good choice for you if your budget is tight.

Its weight makes it a very mobile unit as you can take your bearded dragon around.

Using ABS plastic enclosure comes with no residual plastic odor that is mostly found when PVC is used, while PVC makes cleaning very easy but restricts the amount of ventilation that gets into the cage.

When making a choice between these two materials, careful considerations should be made to choose the best for you.

4. Vision Cage

Vision cages are usually expensive and come in small sizes.

There are however constructed in a professional way and you will mostly find them being used by those who breed bearded dragons.

Features of a Good Bearded Dragon Cage

• It must permit good air circulation. This is influenced by the height of the enclosure and the material used in construction.
• It should be a good insulator. If it can’t retain heat, then the cost of maintaining heat in the enclosure will rise.
• Must provide good security.
• Must be able to be cleaned thoroughly and with ease.
• Must ensure that your pet has no direct contact with heat lamps as they will get burned.
• The materials of construction should not emit any toxic fumes even when it is hot.
• The enclosure should not warp or melt when hot.

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Things to Look For In a Good Bearded Dragon Enclosure

When making a purchase of an enclosure for your bearded dragon, there are some important points to note so that what you get will perform its job to your satisfaction.

Size of the Enclosure

The size requirements for a bearded dragon depends on its stage of growth and its size.

The ideal tank size for a baby bearded dragon is a 20-gallon tank, while that for an adult bearded dragon measuring at least 1ft in length is a 40 – 50-gallon tank.

You may want to begin with a 20-gallon tank and then increase in the size as your pet grows but you will end up wasting a lot of money.

It is better you buy the ideal size for a healthy adult of 120-gallon capacity and let your pet grow into it.

There is no harm in letting your pet have a lot of space when it is little.

If you can’t afford the 120-gallon capacity, try getting the largest tank size you can afford.

Also, when purchasing the tank, take into account the floor space of the enclosure.

They will spend most of their time on the floor unlike geckos and so high sides are not beneficial to them.

Enough floor space will give them adequate room to move about.

Security

When choosing your pet’s enclosure, the security of the enclosure is very important as your pet could break out and fall into the hands of its natural predator, get trampled upon, or go missing.

Many enclosures have security for reptiles and most make use of metal screen covers that you can use to prevent your pet’s exit.

It is not very nice to make use of plastic screens as they can melt.

Glass is also a good choice as it reduces the amount of air that enters the tank.

If you have children at home, you may want to step up your pet’s security with a locking lid on the tank.

This prevents them from putting their hands inside the tank and playing with your pet as it could get hurt.

Durability

When choosing your tank, it is best you go for one that is durable so that you do not have to spend more on buying new enclosures constantly.

Choose a sturdy product as your pet can live for more than 10 years.

Material of the Enclosure

Glass aquariums and glass terrariums work great as enclosures. 

However, some bearded dragons get bothered if they see their reflections. 

In such cases, a background decoration can do the trick. 

You can also use enclosures made out of plexiglass, wood, and/or melamine. 

Wire and mesh are not usually good ideas since they don’t hold in heat well enough.

As for the top, screen lids will do the job, they’re great for ventilation while still keeping most of the heat in. 

You can get cages at pet stores, garage sales, and online websites.

Or you can build your own bearded dragon enclosure.

Directions to build your enclosure can be found at Timeless Spirit Enclosure.

Other Equipment for a Bearded Dragon’s Enclosure

Basking Light

Basking lights substitute the role of the sun in the life of your bearded dragon.

In the wild, bearded dragons bask in the sun to get enough UV rays that allow them to produce vitamin D.

This promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus that are necessary for bone formation and good metabolic processes.

The absence of this could lead to soft bones, muscle tremors, and organ failures amongst others ultimately leading to death.

Source of Heat

Since your pet is cold-blooded, it depends on the heat of the external environment to keep warm.

You need to have a source of heat for this purpose especially if you live in a cold environment.

Temperature and Humidity Meters

In order to ensure that your pet has what it needs in terms of optimum temperature and humidity, you need to keep an eye for these factors at all times with the use of the respective meters.

The right humidity is essential so that your pet can stay hydrated so as to shed skin properly.

Without proper humidity, your pet would retain its shed skin.

Water Dish

Always have a dish filled with water in your pet’s enclosure. It keeps your pet hydrated as they can get soaked in it, and it also maintains the humidity of the enclosure.

Substrate

Bearded dragons are not climbers but mostly diggers.

Providing the right environment that supports that character is essential to their overall wellbeing and you can do this with the introduction of substrates to their enclosure.

Hideouts

Bearded dragons often want to hide in their own spot, and that is why they dig so often. So to satisfy this need, it is great to have a few places where they can hide and chill when they need to.

Decorations

Adding decorations to your pet’s enclosure will make it more homely and beautiful.

Some of the decorations could be aimed at making the enclosure close to your pet’s natural habitat so that it can get more comfortable.

Commonly Asked Questions About Bearded Dragon Enclosures

It’s Your Turn

These best enclosures for bearded dragons are some of the best you can find in the market and so no matter the choice you make, you will have good value for your money.

All the products mentioned here are of top quality and so expect nothing less no matter the choice you make.