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This article this article lists 5 tips on making your new bearded dragon a comfortable home. It is very important that you set up your ‘beardies’ home properly before you bring him home.

#1 Tank size

When setting up your bearded dragons home try to make it as close as possible to his natural habitat. The minimum space for an adult bearded dragon should be no less than 36” x 18” x 18”. However 42” x 24” x 20” would be better.

Also when buying a tank for your beardie you should make sure its easy to maintain, keep clean and you should be able to reach your dragon easily when you want to play with him.

Think carefully about where you are going to locate the tank. Beardies like to see things happening around them but too much activity can cause them stress. And make sure you put the tank is in a spot that is not too hot- in direct sunlight, or not too cold- beside an air con unit.

#2 Essential tank items

All items should be easy to clean and maintain. Also make sure they are secure, can’t come loose or tip over and injure the little critter.

Tank essentials include a food dish, something for your beardie to climb and perch on and a ‘hideaway box’ so he can hide away when he feels stressed.

#3 Your beardies bedding

Try to make your bearded dragons home as natural as possible. Sand is fine also reptile carpets are excellent, but pricey. If you are on a tight budget non-adhesive shelf liner or newspaper-will do.

#4 Tank heating

Beardies native home is Australia where he depends on the sun to heat his body. Hence a ‘basking lamp’ is essential. Also if the temperature in your home drops below 65F at night you will want additional heating this could be a heater under the tank.

But you should not have an even temperature throughout the tank as your beardie needs hot (90-95F), cool (75-85F) and basking (100F) heat. So tank thermometers are vital.

#5 Lighting

Your beardie is active during the day and needs both Ultra Violet-A and Ultra Violet-B rays for his health. Ultra Violet-A rays are provided with the ‘basking lights’. And in his natural environment your dragon would get his Ultra Violet-B rays from the sun. So its a good idea to expose him to natural sunlight from time to time. One hour of sun is worth eighteen hours of tank light.

Finally check all lights regularly and replace them every 6 months (they lose their Ultra Violet concentration after that), even if they still seem to work okay.

So thats it. The essentials you need to provide a happy home for your Bearded Dragon.

Now…go to this linkbeardie careand get a full and comprehensive guide listing all the basic information you require to keep a pet Bearded dragon, includes housing, selecting and buying, handling and feeding and lots of more advanced and interesting subjects..or go tohttp://www.beardeddragontanks.com

categories: bearded dragon tanks,bearded dragon care,beardie care,vivariums,dragons,reptiles