Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi, i don't have a bearded dragom, but am doin research befor i get one, i was just curious, are bearded dragons ground dwellers? or are they aboreal like iguanas? what i mean is do they climb on braches and stuff or would they just prefer to stay on the ground? or combination of both? thanx, i am a newbie i know! -Robert

Hi!
a combination of both
They are mainly ground dwellers so you need a tank with more ground space than vertical space (a 50 gallon breeder is perfect for one adult). They do love to climb on rocks and branches though so you should have some in there for them. They are not arboreal but they do enjoy climbing up rocks and branches and stuff that are closer to the ground. Hope this helps!
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~Melissa~

Mels Art Gallery

My dragons are about 3 months old. They are kept in a cage about 24 inches tall. The driftwood allows them to climb all over, about 18 to 20 in. from the ground, so they can close to the uvb lights and spot light. They both stay way up on the wood and even sleep at the highest spots in the cage. You still want to allow plenty of room on the ground though.

i was just curious, because i have a cage i made that has 3 levels and basically ramps that lead to each level, all togeather it is 5ft tall and 4fr lonng and 2ft deep. i was wondering if this would work, like the levels i mean? would they go up the levels and etc? thanx
-Robert

I think if you used large branches as ramps instead of actual ramps they would use it more often. I do not know if they would go up a ramp like a ferret would.
Chris D.
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Hey mine name is Chris and I currently have 1.0 Midland Painted, 1.0 YBS, and 1.1 Leopard geckos.
This is my female.

actually, it is big thick branches that i use, i use them as ramps, i was just curious if that would work for them or not? i always thought they were grown dwellers, i didn't know if they climbed or not

Well then, Im sure that they would love it... Good luck.
Chris D.
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Hey mine name is Chris and I currently have 1.0 Midland Painted, 1.0 YBS, and 1.1 Leopard geckos.
This is my female.

Bearded dragons like to climb to a good vantage point both for basking and keeping an eye on their environment. I notice this tendancy whenever I let my bearded dragon lose in a room. He seems to go for the most sheltered high point he can spot.

I am sure when you buy a bearded dragon he will use the ramps you have set up. Just make sure you set up a basking light near one of the ramps (or just at one end of the cage) so he can get the temps he will need (95F-110F, the higher end for younder dragons) and there is a cooler area in the enclosure from him to go if it gets too hot.

They certainly do enjoy running a bit on the ground and jumping up on rocks and low branches or stumps. Mine seens to love jumping off his basking log, climb up his shelter, jump from there to the rock I have, then from the rock back onto his log. It's quite fun to watch himn do this especially when he mistakes the reflection of his log in the back glass as the real log. Then he winds up on the floor between the back and the log looking miffed.