Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, if I was going to get a baby bearded dragon what woould I need? I have a 20 gallon long tank, but what else? Also, what size do they need as an adult? Thanks, Tom

2 green anole
1 eastern painted
1 leopard gecko

Here is a good care sheet on bearded dragon:
Dragons Down Under: The Inland Bearded Dragon

ok, thanks, but could you kinda put in in your own words, so I dont got through the whole sheet, thanks!

also, their diets

The more you read the better so you should read the entire care sheet. No need to take short cuts when trying to take care of your dragon.

Wow, you expect us to type out a whole care sheet when many have been written? Maybe a Bearded Dragon is not a good idea if you don't have the time to research and read about their care.

I prefer this care sheet.

http://www.dachiu.com/beardeddragoncare/hatchlingcaresheet.html

Melissa's doesn't specify a high enough basking spot for a baby dragon and they will have a slow growth rate or fail to thrive. I also prefer non adhesive shelf liner from Walmart as substrate for babies. An adult enclosure should be at least 4' x 2' floor area.

From comments so far on your question, I think the main thing you really need is to put the time and effort into researching on the care and housing for your bearded dragon. Just getting a list of things...won't cut it. Understanding why you need UVB, Heat, basking log, etc...will be of more benefit than just following a list of items.

Read more than just one or two care sheets, read many, read back posts on this forum (don't be afraid to read the entire page and maybe the past page too..many newbie questions come up and are answered, as well as many common mistakes are pointed out etc.) You will of course read conflicting information but there is no single one way to do it for the best health of the dragon method...many different methods can work.

Personal preference also plays a factor...if you want a super naturalistic looking cage then a soil/sand mix that is hard packed with natural log and rock formations one would find in a bearded dragon's natural habitat, more considerations are required. If you want simple but best for your dragon than a basic paper towel substrate, sturdy WIDE log or rock/bricks for a basking spot and a hide is all you need in the cage.

For what you have now..a 20 gallon tank won't last too long..maybe a couple months to the dragon is about 12" long...a 35 gal long tank would work till the dragon is around 14" or maybe 16" before an adult tank is required (min 4'x 2' floor space)

Bare essentials you need:

Digital thermometer with probe (and/or temp gun)

Basking log/rock/sight (can be just a box but should be sturdy heat resistant and wide enough for the dragon to lie on comfortably (ie as wide as the dragon's body at rest as an adult..too many tank setups have these tiny narrow grapevine basking sites..do you want to stretch out on a tight rope to relax and soak up some rays?) (note: 'you' is generic, not you specifically leo8)

Basking light (household flood light styles work fine) strong enough to raise basking temps to 120F at top of basking area, or a bit more....setup and house temperatures affect strength fo bulb but for a 20 gal, 75 watt may be sufficient)

UVB tube. Should be unfiltered (nothing between it and the inside of the tank). AVOID COMPACT UVB BULBS. Many of these cause serious damage to dragons and other lizards due to damaging UV index rates.

Substrates for babies should be papertowel or similar (butchers paper, non printed newsprint (not newspaper, newsprint), non stick shelf liners etc)

This is just for the cage...you will need multivitamin powder, calcium powder containing Vit. D3 no phosphorus or other vitamins, a good source of crickets..(a single baby dragon can eat as many as 60 crickets a day, some up to 100 a day) etc. Hence the more research the more you understand the dragon's needs.
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PHLdyPayne

The basics have already been covered very well....as stated, the most important thing is you read all the caresheets and books you can. A mere list of supplies does not substitute for research and good understanding of beardie care. Take some serious time to research this lizard and make sure you can commit to the lifespan and size of these wonderful lizards.

Another great site to check out is www.beautifuldragons.com, a good book is The Bearded Dragon Manual by Phillipe De Vosjoli. The book is a bit outdated now and some of the info is not 100% correct anymore (i thinkt he basking temps he mentions are a bit low, amoung other things) but the overall info is good.

Read, read, read, read!

Once you have done a lot of reading and feel you have a good grasp on beardies, you can start buying supplies.

As mentioned above, keep in mind that a 20long will not last for more than a few months. Adult beardies need at a 75gallon tank or larger. My female is housed in a 90gallon tank, and im planning to build her an even bigger tank because she really needs more room.
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog