Mary Allen
If you look around in the pet keeping of reptiles, you will quickly come across the bearded dragon, which comes from the desert. These cute animals are becoming more and more popular, which is no wonder. Not only do they look beautiful and breathtaking, but they also offer the owners many exciting hours. Whether chasing their prey or climbing, these desert animals live up to their reputation as hunters, which means that the fascination has already captivated many fans. In addition to the right diet, which should consist of plant and live food, the accommodation of the animals also plays an enormously important role. In addition to the selection of the terrarium, this must also be set up in order to keep the bearded dragon as species-appropriate and natural as possible. In this article, you will find out what should be considered when setting up and choosing the right terrarium.
The right terrarium size for bearded dragons
There are a total of eight different types of bearded dragons, all of which can reach different body sizes. However, the most commonly kept pets are the dwarf bearded dragon and the striped bearded dragon.
When buying a terrarium, it is important that you observe the minimum size, although larger tanks are of course never a problem, but offer the animals even more options and well-being. Bigger is always good and offers you even more options when it comes to furnishing than with small models. In addition, it must be considered whether the animals are kept alone or in pairs or in groups. When keeping dwarf bearded dragons individually, the minimum size is 120x60x60cm (LxWxH) and for striped bearded dragons at least 150x80x80 cm (LxWxH). If you want to keep more animals, you always have to add at least 15 percent of the floor space to the specified minimum size. That would be at least 150x90x69 cm for two dwarf bearded dragons and at least 180x100x80 cm for the striped bearded dragons.
In addition to the size, which must be taken into account, the various terrariums are also made of different materials. You can usually choose between a wooden terrarium and a glass terrarium. Wooden models have the advantage that the wood provides additional insulation and therefore less heat is lost, which of course saves you electricity.
Optimum ventilation should be taken care of when purchasing the terrarium. It is important to ensure that there are ventilation openings through which the animals cannot escape. These are usually located on the sides or in the lid of the terrarium. They ensure that the air circulation in the terrarium is right and that the cuties are always properly supplied with fresh oxygen.
The technology needed
Technology plays an enormously important role in the health and well-being of animals and should therefore not be taken lightly. But what exactly is needed here? You can find out more about this in detail below:
- basic lighting;
- heat lamps;
- UV light;
- thermometer;
- hygrometer;
- thermostat;
- substrate;
- side and rear walls;
- drinking bowl;
- decoration and plants.
The basic lighting in your terrarium
Basic lighting plays the most important role, because desert animals are particularly light-loving reptiles. For this reason it is important that you never skimp on the lighting in the terrarium. You get the optimum light output from metal vapor lamps, among other things. In addition, they also offer a particularly natural light. Depending on the size of your terrarium, you can either work with a 150W lamp or with several 75W lamps. Please only choose high-quality lamps that have been specially made for use in such a terrarium.
The heat spot lamps
Heat spot lamps should also be installed. These create a cozy warmth that the animals depend on due to their actual origin. There are, for example, reflector lamps or so-called halogen spots. Both models can also be connected to a dimmer so that you can make fine adjustments yourself. These lamps are also available with different wattages.
It is now important that these heat spots are installed as high as possible so that the animals cannot get close and possibly injure themselves. It is also important that these can be connected to a timer or thermostat so that you can lower the temperature at night without having to make the settings yourself each time.
The UV light
UV light is also very important and should be included in the bearded dragon’s terrarium. This light is needed by the reptiles to produce vitamin D3 and thus plays a particularly important role in health. If there is a vitamin D3 deficiency, this can lead to soft bones and a lack of calcium. Again, there are different options that you could choose from.
For example, there are very strong radiators, which are not allowed to be on all day. These have about 300 watts. In the beginning you should start with five minutes a day and can gradually increase this up to 40 minutes. With the powerful radiators, it is important to keep a minimum distance of one meter from the animal. There is also the option of installing a normal sports radiator, which you could also use as a heat spot, for example. However, this one can run all the time and is not as dangerous as the other products.
High-quality thermometers
A thermometer is also indispensable in the bearded dragon home. Since the animals are very dependent on the ideal temperature in the tank, this must be checked continuously in order to be able to intervene in an emergency. It’s important to make sure you’re using a quality thermometer that you can rely on 24/7. If possible, you should use a model that has two separate temperature sensors. It is therefore urgently necessary to really know the temperature in both areas so that the animals can feel completely comfortable and stay healthy.
With such a special thermometer, it is no problem to measure the temperature directly at two different locations in the terrarium. It is advisable to place one of the sensors in the warmest and one in the coldest place. For the warmest place, of course, the place where the animals would bask would have to be chosen. Alternatively, it is also no problem to attach two thermometers in the terrarium, which would also have the same effect.
The hygrometer
Humidity is also an important part of keeping the bearded dragon. This should be between 30 and 40 percent during the day and between 60 and 80 percent at night. To be sure where the values are, they must be recorded and measured with a hydrometer. There are also combination devices that can measure both humidity and temperature.
The thermostat
In addition to monitoring the values, it is also important to achieve them and keep them within the optimal range. The thermostat is responsible for this. This ensures the ideal warmth in your terrarium. When buying such a product, it is important to note that it can regulate temperatures differently depending on the time of day.
Due to the night-time reduction, it is possible to get particularly close to the temperatures in the great outdoors, which plays a very important role in the well-being of your bearded dragon. While the temperature is reduced in the evening, the thermostat ensures that it rises again in the morning. A model that is able to control two different heat sources is best. This allows you to create a temperature gradient within the terrarium so that there are cooler and warmer areas.
The flooring
The floor covering also plays a very important role in the well-being of the animals. A mixture of sand and clay is the ideal variant for desert animals. You can either make this mixture yourself or buy it in some online shops and specialist shops. The substrate should cover the floor of your terrarium at a height of about 10 cm. You should build in some elevations in some corners of the terrarium so that your animals have the opportunity to live out their digging instinct.
The proportion of clay in the sand-clay mixture should be between 10 and 25 percent. Pure sand, on the other hand, is very unsuitable, as the animals would sink into it. In addition, such a floor brings with it many other possibilities for you as a holder. So it is possible to spray it with some water so that it turns into stone-like slabs. The substrate itself should be cleaned daily. What this means is that you should remove feces and urine daily. From time to time the entire substrate should be replaced.
The side and back walls
Bearded dragons attach great importance to longer running distances. Of course, this means that you are somewhat limited in terms of setup. If you were to fill the terrarium full, your animals would no longer have enough space to run. However, you can now carry out the design itself with rear and side walls, which are made of many different materials, such as cork. However, these are not attached from the outside, but from the inside. You can build the walls in such a way that your bearded dragons have additional hiding places or viewing platforms.
Decoration and plants
In addition to your own individual taste, the needs of the animals also count when it comes to furnishing. Bearded dragons are so-called ambush hunters, which means that they first hide and watch their prey and then strike when the moment is right.
Smaller caves in particular are ideal for hiding. But tree bark or cork tubes can also be attached to both the floor and the walls. Elevations are also important, which can be used to watch prey from above. Don’t forget roots and branches. These allow your animals to act like a predator and strike with lightning speed. Climbing is not neglected either. Stones should be used for the hours of sunshine in the warm area. These also heat up and serve to ensure that your bearded dragon can sunbathe and feel comfortable.
Real plants, on the other hand, should only be used sparingly and placed in pots in the terrarium. In this way you can avoid the fact that the substrate would become soft from the plants or the moisture of the plants. Mold formation on the floor is also avoided in this way. While many batagama owners also swear by natural plants, there are now also natural artificial plants that can hardly be distinguished from the real ones.
Drinking bowl or bathing possibility
Of course, bearded dragons also drink something, so you should make sure that the cute reptiles always have fresh water available. This works best in a large, flat bowl. This can be used at the same time to take a bath from time to time because some animals love the cool water and will definitely be spotted in the bowl one or the other in the future.
Conclusion
If you draw a conclusion, it quickly becomes clear that keeping the bearded dragon is not as easy as many interested parties might think at first. Here it is not only a question of a high-quality and varied diet, which is based on the natural needs of the animals. The furnishings of the terrarium must of course also be well thought out and selected in such a way that the dear animals lack nothing. Your bearded dragon can only feel comfortable and live a healthy and exciting life with you if the equipment and technology work in perfect harmony with a species-appropriate diet.