Bearded Dragon Tank Setup Ideas and Placement

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Habitat placement

With all the supplies in place, the next important step is to decide where to place your enclosure before you begin setting it up. Where to put it will depend on its size and the space available. Ideal places will be:

Not on direct sunlight or near windows that allow sunlight to reach the cage. The heat from the sun will cause temperature rise, making effective temperature control in your vivarium to be very difficult.
A quiet place. Avoid noisy locations, as this will stress your lizards.
Settle for a place with minimal interruptions such as other pets passing by to avoid stress.

Bearded dragon habitat or tank setup ideas and guide

Bearded dragon tank setup entails preparing the tank, adding your substrate, installing heat lamps, UV light bulbs as well as control and monitoring devices. Afterward, as you put in décor, furniture, and other enrichments and personalize them to your liking.

Here is how to properly set your bearded dragon’s tank.

Step 1: Assemble your tank

If you already have an assembled tank, skip this step. Otherwise, follow your manufacturer’s guide while assembling your terrarium. Putting your enclosure together is an easy task that will take you a few minutes.

Step 2: Disinfect and clean it

Thoroughly sanitize your tank with a hospital-grade disinfectant or those designed for reptile cages to get rid of any germs like bacteria that may be lingering on your terrarium surface.

To sanitize it, spray and wipe using the F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant, Clorox Healthcare Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfect Cleaner, or Zoo Med Wipe Out.

Finally, after sanitizing your tank, wipe it down with water to get rid of any remnant sanitizing agents and let it dry.

Step 3: Add substrate

Add the substrate of your choice. If you chose a loose substrate, make it 2-3 inches deep. However, for a solid substrate, you need to put just a single layer.

Step 4: Add enrichments, furniture and décor, and water bowl

Begin adding the various enrichments, including your furniture and décor. A little creativity and personalization will ensure you get a stunningly beautiful and naturalistic terrarium.

The essential ones are the basking platforms, which should be directly below where you will put your basking light and a hide or sheltered place on the cooler side. If it has a hollow beneath, such a platform will give your pets a chance to crawl beneath it if they don’t want to be directly on the heat but want to remain warm.

For climbing branches and logs, incline them towards the basking platform. However, ensure your pet cannot get close or touch the heating lamp or the screen beneath the source of heat as it will be scalding.

Afterward, you can add other enrichments like artificial or live plants, terrarium background, hammocks, and so forth in your tank. However, avoid overdoing it as this may take all the space these pets need. Leave plentiful of space.

Finally, place your water bowl with water on the cooler side. Only move it to the warmer side or the middle of the tank if the vivarium’s humidity goes too low.

Step 5: Set heat lamps and UV lights

Place the terrarium screen and begin installing heat lamps and UV light bulbs. All you need is lamp fixtures compatible with your bulb choice and mount them on top of your screen. Some tanks come with mounting hoods and accessories. Such will make the whole process a lot easier.

If you have a smaller terrarium, you can use bulbs like mercury vapor bulbs that emit both heat and UV light. However, if it is enormous, use separate UV and heat sources. Unfortunately, smaller tanks will make creating a temperature gradient much harder.

a). Heat lamps

You need to create a temperature gradient with a basking spot having a surface temperature of 100 -110 °F (95 -100 °F for hatchlings) and a colder side at 75-90°F.

Place the basking bulb directly above the basking spot and ensure it covers the sufficient area to allow your bearded dragon to warm all its body at the same time. Varying distance for ballasted heat lamps or using thermostat are ways to maintain the required temperature.

Finally, if the nighttime ambient temperature goes way below 65°F, install your nighttime non-emitting light since they need pitch darkness to sleep well. Note that the under-the-tank heat mats or pads can serve as a secondary heat source and not a primary one.

b). UV light bulbs

For UV light bulbs, ensure they cover over 80% and overlap the area with the basking spot to allow these pets to absorb UV rays and warmth at the same time. To achieve desired UVB penetration, place your bulbs at distances recommended by manufacturers. Note that UVB light doesn’t penetrate glass.

Depending on your tank size, our best bet is the Exo Terra Repti-Glo 10.0 Fluorescent Tube Lamp since it has bulbs that are of different wattage and lengths. Also, the Exo Terra Repti-Glo 10.0 Compact Fluorescent Bulb and the MyComfyPets UVB Light and UVA 2-in-1 Reptile Bulb will work well.

Finally, if you have the money, you can buy a UV meter to ensure that your UVB light is up to the required amount. Solarmeter is a great brand to buy.

Step 6: Monitoring and control device

To determine if you have the right terrarium habitat setting, install your control and monitoring devices, i.e., your hygrometer, thermostat, and thermometer.

Thermometers – Install them at various points, especially the basking spot, colder side, and in the middle of the tank. Place them near the surface and not closer to the heat source. If digital, their probe shouldn’t touch anything as this will influence the reading obtained.
Hygrometer – Similarly, place hygrometers at various spots to help record relative humidity. You need to ensure there are no spots with high humidity.
Thermostat setup – Connect your heating device via a thermostat to help regulate temperature if you don’t use ballasted heat lamps.
Reptile timers – All heat going to the UV light bulbs and daytime heat bulbs should go via a timer to help in switching them on and off. All powerlines going to your various terrarium devices should go through your timer.

For the night bulb, you will need to set it in such a way that it comes on at night and goes off during the day.

Step 8: Test for up to a week

Test to ensure the setup works as intended for the few days to a week. Having an infrared gun thermometer will help measure temperature on various spots more easily. Only bring your beardie once the habitat conditions stabilize.

Bonus video

Cheap but cool setup tricks and ideas

To have a cool but cheap bearded dragon tank opt for DIY tanks, substrate, hides, basking spots, among others. In DIYs, the only limit you have is your skill sets and creativity. If you are creative enough, you should end up with something looking ultimately impressive without spending so much money.

However, as you strive to make a saving, don’t compromise on essential supplies, which include heat lamps, UV light, correct tank size, measuring, and monitoring equipment to avoid health issues.

Introduce your bearded dragon

Once you have verified that the terrarium conditions are stable, get your reptile carrier like the Exo Terra Faunarium Flat Home and bring your beardie home. Set your car temperature at optimum and drive straight home to minimize stress.

Once you arrive, introduce your bearded dragon to his new home and leave him alone to familiarize himself with his new home. During the first one or two weeks, minimize handling in the first two weeks.

Finally, don’t forget to feed him, replace his drinking water, keep his enclosure clean, continually monitor terrarium temperature and humidity. Also, ensure he is eating, active, and healthy-looking.

Care and more

With all the necessary supplies and the right setup, the next things you need to familiarize yourself with include the following: