Essential Requirements For Bearded Dragons Vivariums

Reptiles in captivity are kept in enclosures that are suitable for keeping and raising them. These bearded dragons vivariums also known as cages, aquariums and tanks, should be big enough for your lizard. The tank must be installed with proper light and heating equipment and substrate to keep him comfortable and happy.
It is important to have the enclosure ready before you bring your pet home. For an adult bearded dragon a tank four feet long by two feet wide and two feet high should be the minimum size to house it comfortably. The floor space is more important than the height of the tank for a fully grown dragon to move around with ease.

For keeping juvenile dragons a 20 gallon vivarium should be sufficient in the beginning. As they grow older they should be moved to bigger housings. If you intend to keep more than one bearded dragon then a bigger tank will be required. As a general rule the cage should be about one-third bigger than the average tank for each lizard.

 

 

Glass is considered the best material for the tank's casing. The back wall if covered by a picture should provide some security to your pets. The top of the enclosure should not be left open or closed completely. Use a screened wire with a large mesh opening as a cover to allow for ventilation and prevent overheating the cage.
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded animals so they require external heat for its body to function properly. Their digestive system will not work properly if the temperature is too low. Also their overall body metabolism slows down in cooler temperatures leading to various illnesses which can eventually kill your pet dragon.
Overheating can also be dangerous to your pet, so install the lamps to one side of the tank only thus leaving the other side of the cage cool. This will allow them to move to either spot to regulate their body temperature. Maintain a temperature of up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit on one side of the enclosure. This is the basking area for your bearded dragon. The other side of the cage should not be lower than 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep a thermometer, or one on each side of the tank if possible, to monitor the temperature and check this on a daily basis.
There are a lot of options to heat up the tank:
• Ceramic heat emitters produce heat without any light so is ideal to use 24 hours a day. They last longer than heat lamps but a bit more expensive.
• Incandescent light bulbs can also be used; they are readily available and inexpensive providing heat and light but needs to be switched off at night.
• Hot rocks are synthetic stones or bricks submerged under the substrate providing heat to the reptiles.
• Under cage heaters are also available which is placed under the cage. Install these heaters to one side of the cage keeping the other side cooler.
Whichever method you use do not allow the dragons to come too close to these equipments. Your pets can be seriously burned if they touch the heat source. Installing the heat source above the top cover will eliminate this possibility.
For the interior decorations use artificial plants and branches only. Some household plants are poisonous and can be deadly if consumed by your pet. The above are some of the essential requirements for you reptile's vivarium.

Article Source: EzineArticles