Bearded Dragon Care Sheet: The Full Reference
| Enclosure minimum | 4ft x 2ft x 2ft |
| Basking temp | 95–110°F by age |
| UVB | T5 HO 10.0–12%, mandatory |
| Lifespan | 8–12 years, up to 15+ |
Housing
4ft x 2ft x 2ft minimum for an adult (6ft x 2ft x 2ft recommended), well ventilated, with a sturdy basking platform positioned close to the UVB tube.
Heating & UVB
Overhead basking bulb on a thermostat, targeting 95–110°F depending on age, cool side 75–85°F, plus mandatory T5 HO UVB at 10.0 or 12%.
Diet
Staple greens (collard, mustard, turnip, dandelion) daily for adults, protein feeders (dubia, BSFL, crickets) dusted with calcium, treats sparingly.
Supplements
Calcium without D3 on most feedings, calcium with D3 a couple times a week alongside good UVB, multivitamin weekly.
Humidity & substrate
30–40% humidity, tile or paper towel for young dragons, a packed digging substrate mix acceptable for healthy adults.
Common beginner mistakes
Undersized enclosures, missing or degraded UVB, feeding an adult like a juvenile, loose unpacked sand for young dragons, and heat rocks.
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A single adult bearded dragon needs a minimum 4ft x 2ft x 2ft enclosure, with 6ft x 2ft x 2ft increasingly recommended as best practice — plus a linear T5 HO UVB tube, an overhead basking bulb on a thermostat, a real thermal gradient, a sturdy basking platform, and a shallow water dish.
A complete bearded dragon setup needs a 4ft+ enclosure, a linear T5 HO UVB tube, an overhead basking bulb on a thermostat, two thermometers, a basking platform, a hide, a shallow water dish, and age-appropriate substrate — all running and stable for at least 48 hours before the dragon arrives.
Hatchlings can start in a 20-gallon long tub, juveniles need to move to roughly a 40-gallon breeder footprint by a few months old, and adults need a minimum 4ft x 2ft x 2ft enclosure, with 6ft x 2ft x 2ft recommended.
Basking surface temperature should run 95–110°F depending on age (hotter for hatchlings, cooler for adults), with a cool side around 75–85°F, all provided by an overhead basking bulb on a thermostat — not a heat mat or heat rock.
Bearded dragons need a linear T5 HO UVB tube at 10.0 or 12% output, running the length of the basking third of the enclosure with nothing between bulb and dragon, replaced every 6–12 months regardless of whether it still produces visible light.
Bearded dragons should be kept at roughly 30–40% ambient humidity. Sustained humidity above 50% significantly raises the risk of respiratory infection in this dry-climate species — brief daily misting or a shallow soak handles hydration and shedding needs without pushing ambient humidity up long-term.