I've lately been interested in how reptile husbandry has changed (especially with beardeds). Were cage sizes different when you started? Meaning, was a long thin cage standard back then? Or did people get the ones that are at least 18" deep? Also, have there been any changes in lighting over the years? Anything else you know that has changed over the years?

11 years, wow. Can you give me a sort of brief run through on how you cared for your beardies, because it's not all too often that you here about one that breaks the 10 year mark.

Basically, as has been said, go for 4'x2'x2'. The 4' tall cage will be too hard to keep hot enough, and even though beardeds seem to like to climb, I have a 70 gallon tank (3' long, 18" deep, 25" tall) and my little guy has a branch that goes up almost to the top, yet he rarely gets more than a foot off the ground. Plus, if the dragon basks too low they won't benefit from the UV light as much (don't know what you used before, but zoo med reptisuns seem to be the standard now, though there has been some success with cheaper ones and now they make UV/heat bulbs that are much more intense). They need to get I think within 16" of the UV light regularly in order to benefit from it being there, but 12" is much better, and 6" is best.

You probably know all that already though.

later

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