An adult beardie should be housed in a cage at least 36’L x 18”W x 18”H, bigger is better of course. When setting up your enclosure the two most important factors are temperature and lighting. The temperature should be set on a gradient and be 80-85 degrees ambient on the cool side with the basking area surface temp 95-105 degrees on the warm side. Heat rocks should NEVER be used, beardies lack heat sensors on their stomachs and can be badly burned by them. Don’t waste your money on the fancy ‘reptile’ basking lights, they’re just regular spot/flood lights repackaged and sold for twice the money. In addition to the basking light, you’ll need a light that provides UVB. UVB controls D3 production which is essential in metabolizing calcium and preventing metabolic bone disease (MBD) as well as many other health problems. Light intensity is also very important; their cage needs to be bright. Even if you decide to go with one of the MVB bulbs that provide heat and UVB, you’ll still need an additional light source for the rest of the cage.
Substrate is probably the next major concern and probably one of the most debated topics. If it can fit in their mouth, your bearded dragon will eat it. So, with that in mind, anything that can be eaten and possibly cause impaction should not be used. Things NOT to use would be fish tank rock, dirt, calcisand , walnut shell, bark, coconut husk, corn cob bits, etc. The safest things to use are b&w newspaper, paper towels, and non-adhesive shelf liner, but they’re not the prettiest stuff. In addition to impaction risks, also consider how easy it is to clean and disinfect.
Ornaments are an esthetically pleasing addition to any cage and also give your beardie something to climb, bask, and play on. When choosing ornaments keep in mind 2 things - First, can it be cleaned and how easy is it too clean. Second, if you feed crickets or other live prey in the enclosure, they will use any gap they can to hide from your dragon, you don’t want them coming back out at night and munching on your baby.
Babies and juvies can be housed together but as adults it is best to house each one separately. The only combination you may be able to get away with is 2 females, sometimes they will get along. Two males will fight and a male and female will constantly breed.
