Bearded dragons are increasingly becoming one of the most popular exotic pets amongst many people across the globe, including the US, UK, Canada, as well as other places Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australia.

Besides their cute look, some unique behaviors like head bobbing, beard display, and arm waving, there is a large inventory of bearded dragon morphs with different colors, patterns, skin texture, leucism, and so on.

That is not all. These reptiles are hardy, easy to care for, require a small space, and have a laidback or mellow personality, and they allow handing. These factors and many others make them a first-choice of an exotic for older kids, first-timers, adults, and virtually anyone.

Bearded dragon supplies and accessories

If you are considering buying bearded dragons, you need to know their cost, the required accessories, and the correct setup. This post is a straightforward full setup guide not specific to a 10, 75, 20, 55, or 40 gallons tank and so on for baby, juvenile, or adult beardies.

Furthermore, we will not also wade into the setup cost or cost of buying the various items, as this will largely depend on the specific ones you choose.

Here is everything that your bearded dragon needs, i.e., all stuff, including equipment and food.

1. Get a tank or enclosure

A bearded dragon enclosure or tank (vivarium, terrarium or cage) should top the list of the various supplies you must buy. There are various tank sizes with common ones being 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 67, 75, 100, 120 gallons enclosures.

Since they are relatively expensive, aforethought will help you cut down the price of replacing them if you have a young bearded dragon that is growing. When buying one, consider the following:

• Tank size – This will depend on the size of your beardie with babies requiring about 15-20 gallons, juvenile 40-55 gallons, and adults at least 75-gallon tank. See more details on bearded dragon sizes and best brands depending on your lizard’s size.
• Cage type – Here, you need to decide on whether you want a glass, wooden, plywood, PVC, ABS, or vision cages. You can also have a homemade (DIY) or a custom-made one. Learn more about each type bearded dragon cage type, including its pros, cons, and any available brands for sale.

2. Buy terrarium substrate

A substrate is what will cover your tank cage floor surface, and you have a choice of going for a solid or loose substrate. The various type of terrarium substrates with each type having its owns advantages and disadvantages. Also, not all substrates are safe. Some are harmful.

• Solid substrate – They include stone, porcelain, linoleum or ceramic tiles, reptile mats and carpets, shelf liners, newspapers and paper towels, artificial grass,
• Loose substrate – Common ones are sand, aspen shavings, bioactive substrate, alfalfa pellets, among many others.

Our best pick is Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber if you need a loose substate. Other incredible brands include Zilla Ground English Walnut Shells Desert Blend, Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, and Exo Terra Sand Mat.

3. But a heat lamps/heat emitter

As desert lizards, these agamid lizards thrive in places that have high temperatures and low humidity with a preferred body temperature 34–35 degrees Celsius. They need warmth to digest food and stay healthy.

The typical bearded dragon heat lamp to buy comprise of incandescent bulbs, ceramic heat emitters, mercury vapor lamps, metallic-halide lamps, heat pads, mats, rocks, cables, and so forth.

Always consider your tank size. Some highly rated brands include Zilla Reptile Terrarium Heat Lamps Mini Halogen Bulb or Evergreen Pet Supplies 100-Watt UVA UVB Mercury Vapor Lamp.

While considering which one to buy, our guide on bearded dragon optimum temperature and ideal heat lamps will answer most of the questions you may be having and give you the best heat lamps for day and nighttime.

4. Buy a UV light bulb

Bearded dragons need both UVA and UVB rays (10-12% for adults and 5% UVB for babies for 12-14 hours a day). UVA light helps in stimulating daily and seasonal activities as well as the wake and sleep cycle while.

On the other hand, UVB light helps in the synthesis of vitamin D3 needed calcium absorption. Insufficient UVB light makes your bearded dragons susceptible to metabolic bone diseases.

Some UV light source includes mercury vapor lamps, metallic halide UVB lamps, linear and compact UV fluorescent bulbs, halogen lamps and so on that you should regularly replace.

Deciding what is what you need can be so perplexing, particularly to those who are not techy savvy. Cast your worries away and see more on UVB light bulbs, and terrarium lighting setup that has FAQs. The rest will be a breeze.

5. Invest in monitoring and control devices

As already hinted, these pets require warmer drier habitat. To help maintain various terrarium conditions, you need control and monitoring devices which include:

a). Thermometer

Plac them on the warmer and colder side as well as other places in your vivarium to help you know if temperatures are correctly set. There are digital (best), infrared, and analog thermometers with combo ones that also measure humidity.

Top in the list of the best reptile terrarium thermometer is the Zoo Med Digital Thermometer. There are also others, including analog ones that will serve you well.

b). Hygrometer

The recommended bearded dragon relative humidity level is 35-44%, with 30%-50% acceptable. High humidity will increase the risks of respiratory infections and other illnesses. Various ways, such as keeping proper ventilation, especially with a terrarium screen cover, will help keep humidity lows.

To accurately monitor humidity, you need a hygrometer where there are digital and analog brands. Don’t go for anything less than a reliable reptile hygrometer, especially the digital or high-end analog ones.

Our best pick is the Zoo Med Digital Thermometer Humidity Gauge Combo, which independently gives you humidity and temperature readings. Of course, you will find other good brands while looking at some of the best terrarium thermometers.

c). Thermostat

Thermostats are devices that help control temperature, which could be on/off, pulsating, or dimming. Each of these will work well on specific heat sources and have their advantages and disadvantages.

Before buying a thermostat, ensure you familiarize yourself with these various types of thermostats and which heat sources they can control.

However, if a ballasted bulb such as fluorescent or high-intensity discharge bulbs such as mercury vapor lamps or metallic-halide lamps, don’t buy a thermostat. They don’t work with them.

e). Reptile timers

Switching lights and UV light on an off can be very tedious. However, with a timer, especially a digital one, because it is easier to use, you can automatically turn your tank lights on and off at a set time.

Buying the Zilla Reptile Habitat Lighting & Terrarium Heat Power Center will help you achieve this objective. Also, the BN-LINK 8 Outlet Surge Protector with Mechanical Timer with four outlets will serve you well too.

6. Get a feeding bowl

If you use loose substrate, to minimize the chances of your pet swallowing some, invest in a non-porous, easy to clean, non-tipping food bowls like Exo Terra Feeding Dish or any other good brand.

Additionally, investing in cricket feeders like Exo Terra Reptile Cricket Feeder or Rep-Cal Cricket Shaker will making the feeding of live crickets, locusts, or insects that leap much fun.

7. Get a shallow water bowl

Bearded dragons need drinking water. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure they always have clean, fresh drinking water in a shallow drinking water bowl in their terrariums. Some may not drink water, while others will soak themselves in the water bowl.

Always clean their water bowl and replace the water daily or in case they poop inside it as they soak themselves. Also, don’t forget to detoxify the water if you use tap water to reduce chloramines, chlorine, nitrates, or ammonia while providing the needed electrolytes or amines with Zoo Med ReptiSafe.

8. Buy food for your bearded dragon

Beardies are omnivores that require various in varying proportions of food depending on whether they are babies, juveniles, or adults, as well as their health status, including if carrying eggs. Foods you need include the following.

• Live feeder insects – Crickets, black soldier larvae (Phoenix or Calci-worms), roaches, silkworms, hornworms, grasshoppers, and locusts are part of their staple feeder insects. Others include mealworms, butterworms, waxworms, fruit flies, pink mice, king worms, among others.
• Veggies and herbs– Squash, endive, escarole, radicchio as well as dandelion, turnip, collard, and mustard green make best veggies and salads for bearded dragons. However, the list of other occasional vegetables and safe herbs is endless.
• Plants and flowers – Cactus leaf and alfalfa sprout are safe staples while there are many other occasional safe plants. See a whole list of safe plants, including the unsafe ones.
• Safe fruits – Fruits make part of their delicious and sweet treat or snack, but not all of them are safe. Ensure you know safe and unsafe fruits.
• Commercial foods – These include freeze-dried live feeder insects and pelleted ones balanced to meet your bearded dragon’s nutritional needs. They have their pros and down. We have a review of the best commercial bearded dragon foods.

9. Get calcium, vitamin D3, and multivitamins

Besides gut loading their foods, you need to dust it with calcium, vitamin D3 and multivitamins to ensure your pet receives all the necessary nutrients. Vitamin D3 aids in calcium absorption, while calcium has many functions like promoting the formation of strong and healthy bones.

10. Buy furniture, toys and other enrichments

Décor, furniture, and enrichments are what will transform your bearded dragon’s tank into an excellent habitat. Without them, it is like having a house without furnishings or beds. Your home will surely feel empty. Some important ones to buy include:

• Hides or hideouts – Provide a hiding and sleeping place. They will help minimize stress.
• Climbing branches and logs
• Basking rocks
• Hammock and loungers
• Digging spots or using Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate
• Terrarium live and artificial plants
• Terrarium backgrounds
• Beardie toys

11. Extras – harness leash, outfits, and costumes.

While they are not a must-have, these extras can help when going for a walk with your pet or making them look adorable. Some of the extra supplies include:

• Outfits and costumes – They include hats, shark costume, devils costume, and wizard costumes.
• Harness and leash – If leash-trained, you can use a harness leash while having a walk in the park with your beardie.