Welcoming a bearded dragon into your home is an exciting journey filled with new experiences and discoveries. As you prepare to become a proud owner of these captivating reptiles, having the right tools and setup is essential to ensure a comfortable and thriving environment.
Bearded dragons are unique creatures with specific habitat requirements, and a well-designed starter kit can make this transition smoother for both you and your new pet.
In this guide, we’ll delve into the world of bearded dragon starter kits, presenting the top seven options available. By choosing the right starter kit, you’re setting the foundation for a happy and healthy life for your bearded dragon companion.
Contents
The Best Bearded Dragon Starter Kit
Now we can suggest you a few starter kit option for the first bearded dragon that you are going to bring home anytime soon.
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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BEST OVERALL | BEST OVERALL |
Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit |
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BEST VALUE | BEST VALUE |
BioTerium Reptile Tank |
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PREMIUM CHOICE | PREMIUM CHOICE |
Zoo Med Laboratories |
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Check On Amazon |
1. Exo Terra Rainforest Habitat Kit:
This one is a small kit and perfect for young or baby bearded dragons. If you are getting a baby bearded dragon for the first time, this kit may come in handy for you, though there is a medium version available for the juvenile ones. This kit contains a terrarium made of glass and there are dual front doors which makes the escaping of the bearded dragon a tough job. The full metal screen at the top allows ample ventilation and thus your pet will live in fresh air when you use this kit for its living.
The cage can be lifted by the top and that is a compact process to lift it. There is a front window that allows the creature to be seen from outside. Also, the natural light can enter the cage by the transparent walls. The kit comes fully equipped with jungle rope, food dish, substrate, a jungle vine, etc. all you need to put are the electrical equipment like the heat and humidity source. This is a smart way to start the life of a pet owner and set the bearded dragon with a compact household.
Pros:
- Glass made cage
- Water dish available
- Jungle vine and rope included
- Metal screen top for ventilation
Cons:
- Vines are not too strong
2. Zilla Deluxe Bearded Dragon Kit:
This kit is fit for keeping a calm and naïve creature like a bearded dragon when it first arrives at your home. This kit contains a glass terrarium and that too is much spacious. So you can offer this kit to a fully grown bearded dragon as it will have ample space to move inside. The reflective dome light that comes along with this kit is just perfect for providing light and heat at the same time. The amount of light that it provides is sufficient to keep the bearded dragon in healthy condition. There is a setup guide that will offer ample information about how to set this kit and which items are to be used for what purpose.
This starter kit provides you with all the necessary equipment and it is just perfect when it comes to taking care of the bearded dragon for the first time. The price of the product is much worth the value and that too is a budget price. Zilla is a popular brand when it comes to pet accessories and thus you can trust them with the quality of the product that it offers. The kit contains a day blue and black night bulb which is there to take care of the sleeping schedule of the pet bearded dragon. The screen cover allows entering natural air and light inside the terrarium. The stone bowl that is there to serve food to the pet is of good quality. Also, it comes with some amount of food and reptile bedding which is great for covering the floor of the terrarium.
Pros:
- Different lighting system for day and night
- Screen cover to allow light and air
- Food bowl and food
- Humidity gauge
Cons:
- Available only in stores
3. Thrive Front Double Door Opening Terrarium Desert Essential Kit:
This one is a pricey option in our list but it contains too many items to offer you the value for money. This product is available mostly in-store, though they offer online delivery to some areas. But if you are serious about taking care of your bearded dragon then you must get this starter kit for your bearded dragon. This kit offers a great and adequate habitat option for your bearded dragon.
It contains a 40-gallon terrarium which is good enough to keep a matured bearded dragon in perfect health condition. There will not be a scarcity of space when you provide just a big-sized terrarium to it. There is a built-in screen lock that assures that the bearded dragon will not be escaping the habitat easily. The lid of the terrarium comes with a feeding door which makes entering the food item inside the terrarium easy.
The 100-watt bulb offers ample light and heat. You will get a desert UVB bulb as well which is there to provide the much necessary UVB lights to the bearded dragon. There are two dome lamps available in this kit to fit both the bulbs with separate fixtures.
There are separate slots for card management and that is just perfect to fit all the lights and other fixtures inside the terrarium. The basking or hide décor that comes inside the kit makes it a complete product that can be used just after unpacking and settling it. The substrate that is offered with this kit is perfect for the desert creature so the bearded dragon will be much happy to find it at its shelter. There are food and water dish to offer edibles to the reptile.
Pros:
- All necessary equipment in a single kit
- Nice and spacious terrarium
- Front door and top opening
- Food and water dish
- Good quality substrate
- Light for heat and light
Cons:
- High priced
4. Zoo Med Laboratories SZMNT Reptihabitat:
This is again a small tank to accommodate a baby bearded dragon. It is not a high-priced product like the previous one but the brand offers it, has the goodwill in manufacturing and selling the most useful products for pets. So the first-timers can give it a chance. This is easy to set up and also much easy to clean and maintain. This product is mostly used for keeping the snakes but bearded dragons can be kept in it quite easily and adequately.
There is a heating pad available with this kit so you should not have to worry about the heating source of your bearded dragon after placing it into this tank. A hiding spot is given with this kit so your bearded dragon will have its cozy place to rest. There is a 100-watt bulb that comes with this kit and it offers a good amount of light and heat for keeping a baby bearded dragon healthy. The lid comes with a locking system so you do not have to worry about escaping your bearded dragon from the shelter.
Pros:
- Light bulb included
- Basking spot
- Spacious for a baby dragon
Cons:
- Customers complained about receiving the broken product
5. Crapelles Glass Tank Spider Box Kit:
The name may seem misleading but this terrarium fits the bearded dragon as well as other amphibians and the spiders, the name of which insect is mentioned in the title. The size of the terrarium is adequate to keep a baby bearded dragon into it. There is a fake rock to be put inside the terrarium which will come in handy when the bearded dragon needs a hiding place. Also, the top of the rock can be used as its basking place.
There are artificial flowers to decorate the interior of the terrarium and that is a plus for this kit. You can make the interior of any terrarium lively by putting some original or synthetic flowers into it. There is a single door in this terrarium which makes sense when it comes to keeping the bearded dragon inside it, though it may seem difficult to feed it or keep things inside it. The dragon may take a chance and escape when you are keeping your hand inside the terrarium.
This terrarium is made from resin and glass. Thus it can be called a nice and sturdy product. as this is not much large in size you can keep it in any place of your house. The door comes with a safe locking system so when you close the door there will be less chance of escaping the bearded dragon from it. There is a window at the top for ventilation. It can let the fresh air pass through the terrarium. Your pet can accompany you if you keep this neat and compact terrarium at your work desk.
Pros:
- Hiding décor
- Artificial flower
- Ventilation window at the top
- Safety lock at the door
Cons:
Not good for grown-up bearded dragon
6. Exo Terra Bearded Dragon Starter Kit:
This brand has always offered pet owners the choicest and best quality product. So you can expect to get some good starter kit for rearing your bearded dragon. The kit that they offer provides the bearded dragon with the best possible home solution. There are various necessary items that are required to keep the dragon healthy and comfortable in its new foster home.
The price of the product is not much less but the quality of the equipment will be just suitable for the pet. They offer a sand floor mat for covering the floor and it is also great for keeping the humidity of the interior in a balanced condition. However, for the baby bearded dragon, you may find a more suitable flooring option and replace the existing one with that.
There are rocks in the flooring item which can be devoured by the bearded dragon and eventually they can be choked. There is a reptile dome and light bracket to put the lighting fixture inside the terrarium. They offer a thermometer to check the temperature of the interior.
The medium-sized water dish is also available in the kit so the bearded dragon can have its share of food and water from the right container. The solar glo light of the kit will offer light and heat to the bearded dragon and it will ensure that the temperature of the terrarium stays at a high. This kit will make the taking care process of the bearded dragon much easy, and that is why it has been much loved by the bearded dragon owners.
Pros:
- Solar- Glo light
- Fixture and dome included
- Nice housing for the baby dragons
- Medium-sized water dish
Cons:
- Sand mat not suitable for the baby bearded dragons
7. Crapelles Frogs Glass Terrarium:
We have included another product from this manufacturer, and like the previous one, this is too named in a misleading way. You can easily keep the bearded dragon inside the terrarium that comes with this kit. The kit is just perfect for many amphibians and reptiles, so it is not secluded for the bearded dragons only. This kit provides a beautiful shelter when set up. The green turf offers a luscious-looking interior that will make the bearded dragon happy. Along with that, you will get a volcanic rock inside the terrarium to offer the basking spot cum hiding area for the bearded dragon. There is also a set of artificial flowers which will make the interior of the terrarium look fresh and lively.
The top window ventilation is there to offer fresh air to the creature inside. Also as the window is at the top, your pet will not be able to escape from that area. The safe locking system will be offering prevention from escaping the bearded dragon from the door. There is a separate feeding hole through which you can reach the inside of the cage and offer food. This is a much helpful system as that does not make the bearded dragon alarmed when you try to give it some food.
There is a single door in this terrarium that offers full viewing ability from any corner and any angle. The terrarium is waterproof and keeps the humidity locked inside. So your pet dragon will not suffer from dryness in the air. This is a compact terrarium for the baby bearded dragon and you can easily place it on your work desk or any small corner of your home.
Pros:
- Natural rock for hiding and basking
- Green turf as flooring
- Artificial flower to decorate the interior
- Compact size
- Locked door
- Top ventilation
Cons:
- Too small in size.
Common Faqs
What should be the ideal material of a terrarium?
When it comes to choosing the right option for the terrarium material you can be easily confused. There are products available in glass, wood ad plastic, and each one of them comes with its own benefits and flaws.
Glass:
Glass is the most popular and common option for choosing the terrarium for the bearded dragon. The humidity level stays at a balance within the glass terrarium. Most of the glass terrarium comes with a front opening thus you will be easily putting the food inside the terrarium or take the bearded dragon out of the shelter.
But when it comes to heat insulation then the glass is not so good in this aspect. The thermometer is mandatorily kept inside the glass terrarium to keep an eye on the temperature level.
Wood:
A terrarium made of wood and glass is the second-best choice for bearded dragon owners. Wood can insulate the heat in the right way. Glass is used to build the top of the terrarium to allow the natural light inside the terrarium. Also, the walls are made of wood and glass on different sides. If you are living in a moderately warm zone, this can be the best choice to keep your bearded dragon.
Plastic:
The plastic-made terrariums come cheaper than other options available in the market, but there is a common error in all of them. The poor airflow and lack of humidity can be fatal for your bearded dragon. If you choose to buy this kind of terrarium, you need to pay close attention to the health of the bearded dragon all the time.
Screen:
This is probably one of the most favorable terrariums for bearded dragons. Screen walled terrariums offer ample natural light and fresh air. You can decorate the screen terrariums with indoor plants thanks to the presence of the natural atmosphere inside them. But you need to be aware of the scars that the bearded dragon usually makes on its body and nose, due to the rough surface of the screen walls.
What else do you need for a bearded dragon?
There are several things needed for setting up the terrarium for the bearded dragon. You need a UVB lamp that will provide the UV rays which is required by the bearded dragons. Also, the heat from the lamp will be much helpful for the growth and calcium absorption of the bearded dragon.
The heat lamp can be bought separately and it will be used to provide heat if the region is too cold.
Ceramic heat emitter is a nice and smart equipment to provide heat without light, thus the bearded dragon owners use this emitter as the heat source in the nighttime.
A humidifier is something that keeps the atmosphere moist. You can use a humidifier or mist the interior of the terrarium to keep the humidity level at a balance.
A thermometer is necessary to check the temperature level. Unless there is a thermometer, you cannot check when the heating source is working and when it is not working properly.
A good quality substrate is required to keep the bearded dragon in the shelter. They can feel at home when they get something to dig and make a burrow.
A basking stone is needed where the bearded dragon will rest when it will wish to enjoy some heat.
You need lots of indoor plants to keep the terrarium a green and lively place.
What should be the size of the bearded dragon tank?
The size of the tank matters for any creature that you are keeping a pet. In the case of the bearded dragon, the size of the tank would be adequate to the size of the bearded dragon. If you decide to bring home a baby bearded dragon then go for a tank that would be20 gallons, but for the juveniles, the tank size should be 40 gallons. The adult bearded dragon can be kept in a tank of 75 gallons comfortably.
If you think to buy a bigger tank for the baby bearded dragon, then you may face the stress of the dragon when it is brought home. The large empty space can make it nervous. So do not compromise on the price and get the adequate sized terrarium for the little reptile pet and make it happy.
This pet comes with a relatively long life span. This is something actually helpful. We keep pets to get some mental support, and in the case of a bearded dragon, you would be satisfied on that ground. The long life expectancy makes them a chosen pet for many.
Another aspect that is much agreeable for them is low maintenance. They do not need as much attention and care as other four-legged creatures. So if you have a hectic schedule and yet wish to get some pet, get a bearded dragon.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, selecting the ideal bearded dragon starter kit lays the groundwork for a successful and enjoyable journey into pet ownership. These kits offer a comprehensive package of essential items that cater to the specific needs of these captivating reptiles.
By providing a proper habitat, lighting, and other essential components, you’re ensuring a comfortable and thriving environment for your bearded dragon from the very beginning.
The 7 best starter kits we’ve explored encompass a range of options to suit various preferences and budgets, allowing you to make a well-informed choice. With the right starter kit, you’re not only giving your bearded dragon a great start but also setting the stage for a wonderful companionship filled with shared adventures and memorable moments.