Lizards
Bearded dragon care guide
Pogona vitticeps
A large, highly active desert lizard with one of the highest UVB requirements in the hobby. 40-gallon tanks are a starting point, not an adult home.
Terrestrial — floor space first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Bearded dragon enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult bearded dragon should live in at least 48" L × 24" W × 24" H; we build toward 96" L × 24" W × 24" H (8 × 2 × 2 ft, roughly 16 sq ft of floor and about a 239-gallon glass equivalent).
4x2x2 is the floor; 6–8ft long is where they thrive. Never house two together.
- Hatchling / baby
- 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 18" H
- Juvenile
- 72" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 48" L × 24" W × 24" H
- Adult
- 96" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 48" L × 24" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
Cluster of halogen flood bulbs over a raised basking platform, on a dimming thermostat.
- Basking / warm surface
- 100–107°F surface for adults (105–110°F for babies)
- Warm side (ambient)
- 85–95°F ambient
- Cool side (ambient)
- 75–85°F ambient
- Night
- 65–75°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Linear T5 UVB 10–12% spanning ~2/3 of the enclosure (UVI 4–6 at basking). Run lights on a 12–14 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 30–40%. Dry enclosure, water bowl only; high humidity causes respiratory infection.
Substrate and depth
Topsoil / play sand mix (bioactive friendly). Depth: 4 in.
Get a cleaning schedule for this substrate →Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Raised basking rock or platform under the lamp
- Hide on the cool end
- Branches for climbing
- Water bowl and open sight-lines
Build list
- 4x2x2 minimum enclosure (6ft preferred) — Beardies patrol constantly and need a huge gradient.
- Linear T5 10–12% UVB fixture — Highest-UVB pet species; compact coil bulbs are not adequate.
- Halogen flood bulbs + dimming thermostat — Wide, hot basking surface rather than a hotspot.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bulk topsoil/sand mix — Diggable and dust-free at 4in depth.
Bearded dragon FAQ
How big should an adult Bearded dragon enclosure be?
At least 48" L × 24" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 96" L × 24" W × 24" H — about 8 × 2 × 2 ft, or a 239-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Bearded dragon need?
Basking or warm surface 100–107°F surface for adults (105–110°F for babies), warm side 85–95°F ambient, cool side 75–85°F ambient, night 65–75°F. Cluster of halogen flood bulbs over a raised basking platform, on a dimming thermostat.
Does a Bearded dragon need UVB?
Linear T5 UVB 10–12% spanning ~2/3 of the enclosure (UVI 4–6 at basking). Photoperiod: 12–14 hours.
What humidity does a Bearded dragon need?
30–40%. Dry enclosure, water bowl only; high humidity causes respiratory infection.
What substrate is best for a Bearded dragon?
Topsoil / play sand mix (bioactive friendly), at a depth of 4 in.
How big does a Bearded dragon enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended, minimum 36" L × 18" W × 18" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
How often should I clean bearded dragon enclosures?
Spot-clean daily and deep clean on a schedule that depends on your substrate. Get a cleaning schedule.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own bearded dragon record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.