10 Best Bearded Dragon Enclosures and Terrariums – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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A Bearded Dragon needs a good quality terrarium with plenty of space, that can retain heat and humidity, and that is the right shape and design for the species. Beardies generally prefer horizontal space, although they do like to climb a little, so some vertical space is also good. And because they come from the arid regions of Australia, they need a terrarium that will retain high heat and humidity levels.
Depending on the size of your Bearded Dragon, it will require an absolute minimum of a 50-gallon tank as an adult—ideally more like 80 gallons—and there is no such thing as too much space, from the Beardie’s point of view.
Below, you can find reviews of 10 of the best Bearded Dragon enclosures and terrariums to help you find the ideal tank for your Dragon as well as a guide to what to look for when buying a terrarium.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Repti Zoo Glass Reptile Terrarium Sliding Doors |
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Best Value
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New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge |
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Premium Choice
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Repti Zoo Large Glass Reptile Terrarium |
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Repti Zoo Double Hinge Glass Reptile Terrarium |
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OiiBO Glass Screen Ventilation Reptile Terrarium |
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The 10 Best Bearded Dragon Enclosures and Terrariums
1. Repti Zoo Glass Reptile Terrarium Sliding Doors with Screen Ventilation – Best Overall
| Capacity: | 65 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 18 x 18 Inches |
| Materials: | Glass, Aluminum, Metal |
The Repti Zoo Glass Reptile Terrarium is a 65-gallon vivarium with convenient sliding doors and a screen that offers easy ventilation for the tank. The sliding doors can be locked in place, to prevent unwanted escape, and they open individually and separately so that you can get in to easily clean the vivarium. It is a suitable size for most adult Bearded Dragons because it provides enough room to be comfortable without being so large that it is too difficult to heat.
The screen top and screen side panels allow for decent ventilation, which is important in a glass tank. The glass itself does not allow air to pass through, which means without ventilation it can cause condensation, allow pathogens to multiply, and it can leave your Beardie with too little air. The tank itself also sits slightly off its chosen surface, which enables you to add an under-tank heater that provides warmth without the risk of belly burns. It is the best overall bearded dragon enclosure and terrarium.
The Repti Zoo is reasonably priced for a tank of this size, and it is easy to put together when it arrives, but while the mesh does provide ventilation, it can also make it a challenge to keep temperatures at a high enough level.
- 65-gallon tank is a decent size
- Mesh screens enable good ventilation
- Slightly raised, enabling the use of an under-tank heater
- Mesh screens make it harder to maintain temperature
2. New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge– Best Value
| Capacity: | 120 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 24 x 24 Inches |
| Materials: | Wood, Glass, Mesh |
The New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge is a large 120-gallon tank made from composite wood material with glass doors and a mesh lid. It has additional mesh in the side panels, so there is plenty of ventilation. The material is also moisture-resistant and easy to clean, and the whole tank is priced very affordably, especially considering its impressive size. The screen lid does help with ventilation, and it will allow UV and heat lamps to sit above it, but it doesn’t have anywhere to hang lamps and other hardware.
The New Age Reptile Lounge is easy to put together, although there can be a few gaps between the panels, and because it is so reasonably priced for such a sizable tank, it is the best Bearded Dragon enclosure and terrarium for the money. This enclosure does have a large lip at the bottom of the front, below the glass doors, which makes it impossible to look in and see your Beardie.
- Large 120-gallon vivarium
- Inexpensive
- Mesh offers good ventilation
- Some gaps between panels
- Large lip at the front means you can’t see your Beardie
3. Repti Zoo Large Glass Reptile Terrarium – Premium Choice
| Capacity: | 120 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 24 x 24 Inches |
| Materials: | Glass, Aluminum, Metal |
The Repti Zoo Large Glass Reptile Terrarium is generously proportioned but it does come with an equally large price tag being one of the most expensive on this list. It has the same dimensions as the New Age Mojave Lounge above but is made with a thin aluminum frame and with glass panels right around. It has a mesh lid, which allows UV and heat through, while also allowing air out, and like the other Repti Zoo, it has a raised base that enables you to add an under-tank heater, if one is needed.
Because it is essentially a glass terrarium, there are no visibility problems, so you can see in and see your Beardie wherever it is in the tank—your view isn’t impeded by a large wooden lip. This glass reptile terrarium is expensive, but it is a big tank with some good features and great visibility.
- Large 120-gallon terrarium
- Mesh lid aids in ventilation
- Raised base allows for the use of an under-tank heater
- Very expensive
4. Repti Zoo Double Hinge Glass Reptile Terrarium
| Capacity: | 50 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 36 x 18 x 18 Inches |
| Materials: | Glass, Aluminum, Metal |
The Repti Zoo Double Hinge Glass Reptile Terrarium is similar to the large glass Repti Zoo Terrarium, but it is smaller. With a 50-gallon capacity, it may be suitable for smaller adults and is certainly big enough for juveniles. While most owners choose to buy a large tank that their juvenile Bearded Dragons can grow into, you can buy a smaller tank for your young Beardie and then get a larger tank when they reach full size at about 12 months of age.
The vivarium is easy to put together, has a mesh lid and mesh side panels for ventilation, and has a raised base that allows for under-tank heating. The front doors open separately and have a lock so they can be kept secure. It is expensive for what is a relatively small tank, especially considering you will likely want to upgrade to something bigger after a few months.
- Decent tank for juvenile Beardies
- Raised bed allows for the use of under-tank heating
- Mesh panels offer good ventilation
- 50 gallons is quite small for adults
- Pricey for the size
5. OiiBO Glass Screen Ventilation Reptile Terrarium
| Capacity: | 65 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 18 x 18 Inches |
| Materials: | Glass, Aluminum, Metal |
The OiiBO Glass Screen Ventilation Reptile Terrarium is a 65-gallon glass terrarium with a screen top and a raised base. The front doors are sliding doors and they operate separately, so you can easily gain access to add food or to clean the terrarium out. The mesh does a good job of ventilating but like many of these vivariums, there are mesh panels on the side, too, which can make humidity management a little more challenging.
Overall, this is a well-priced, decent-sized tank, and the sliding doors mean that the tank takes up less space than if it had swinging doors, but other than the lock, there isn’t a handle to slide the doors back. You will need to make sure everything is set up neatly and that the tank is on a perfectly flat surface or sliding the doors open and closed can prove difficult. A handle would have been beneficial.
- Decent price for the vivarium size
- Sliding doors take up less space
- Mesh panels are good for ventilation
- Mesh top and side panels impede humidity management
- No handles on the sliding doors
6. OiiBO Tempered Glass Reptile Terrarium
| Capacity: | 64 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 18 x 18 Inches |
| Materials: | Glass, Metal |
The OiiBO Tempered Glass Reptile Terrarium is a 64-gallon tank that is very reasonably priced and has some useful features. It is a glass terrarium, which means you can easily see in, and your Beardie can see out. It has a mesh top, side ventilation, and a raised base to allow for a heat mat to be placed under the tank.
The sliding doors operate separately, which means you can easily get to either half of the tank for cleaning, or you can slide it partially open to put food in. However, the doors do lack a handle, which would have made opening and closing much easier.
- Reasonable price
- Sliding doors are convenient
- Mesh top offers decent ventilation
- No handle on the sliding doors
7. Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium
| Capacity: | 120 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 24 x 24 Inches |
| Materials: | Glass, Metal |
The Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium is a large 120-gallon tank made from glass with a metal frame. It has a mesh top, and you can install the lights and lamps below the mesh so that they don’t take up extra space above the lid. The sides are glass, rather than mesh, which makes it easier to keep humidity levels up but while the base is raised slightly off the surface it sits on, you may struggle to get an under-tank heater in the space.
This tank is one of the most expensive on the list, but it is a well-crafted tank of a very decent size, and the fact that you can install lamps under the mesh lid means it is more streamlined than other tanks of a similar size. However, it suffers a similar fate to other tanks with sliding doors in that it uses the lock, which is a little difficult to turn, as a handle. It would have been better to have suction handles installed for peace of mind and ease of use.
- Sturdy construction
- 120-gallon tank is ideal for adult Beardies
- Lamps can be fit under mesh lid
- Very expensive
- Doors would benefit from having handles
8. CAVACHEW 67 Gallon Reptile Tank
| Capacity: | 67 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 18 x 18 Inches |
| Materials: | Glass, Metal |
The CAVACHEW 50 Gallon Reptile Tank is a 67-gallon glass tank that measures 48 x 18 x 18 inches. It has a mesh top that allows for ventilation and a cable pass on the top corner of one of the side panels, allowing you to pass up to four wires through and into the tank. It has a raised base, allowing for the addition of a heat mat underneath, and it has double sliding doors that include a simple locking catch.
It is a little on the expensive side for a 67-gallon tank, and the double sliding doors don’t feature a handle or a key lock. In a lot of tanks, the key lock doubles up as a handle, but with the CAVACHEW you will have to press your hands against the doors to pull them aside, which isn’t the best method.
- Raised base allows for the addition of a heat mat
- Cable pass hole in top corner
- Mesh lid and ventilation hole offer humidity management options
- A little pricey
- No handles or even key lock to open doors
9. Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium, Extra Long
| Capacity: | 67 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 48 x 18 x 18 Inches |
| Materials: | Tempered Glass, Metal |
The Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium, Extra Long is similar to the Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium above except it is a bit smaller. For the size, it is still an expensive terrarium, but it is a very sturdy construction, allows for the installation of lights and lamps under the mesh lid which itself is beneficial for ventilation, and its raised base allows for the addition of further heating underneath the tank.
The sliding doors, although beneficial for being able to conveniently clean inside the tank, are quite heavy and they come with suction cups rather than actual handles, so it can be a little difficult to open them properly. There are also a few issues with the lock not always working, so your Bearded Dragon may be able to escape, and you will need to be certain you’ve shut them properly every time.
- Overall build quality is good
- Mesh lid offers some ventilation
- Raised base allows extra heating options
- No handles on sliding doors
- Door lock is temperamental
10. NEPTONION 48 Gallon Professional Glass Terrarium
| Capacity: | 48 Gallons |
| Dimensions: | 36 x 18 x 18 Inches |
| Materials: | Aluminum, Glass |
The NEPTONION 48 Gallon Professional Glass Terrarium is a glass tank with a mesh lid and small mesh side panels that offer good ventilation. The tank has swinging double doors, which do have handles as well as a lock. While the handles are a surprisingly unusual, but very beneficial, addition, the lock is a little on the flimsy side.
The tank is quite expensive for its size, and because it is only a 48-gallon tank, it is only suitable for juvenile Bearded Dragons so you will need to upgrade to something larger after a few months. While some buyers will prefer the swinging doors because they don’t get jammed, the lock could do with being sturdier to prevent escape.
- Handles on the door are a useful addition
- Swinging doors don’t jam
- Door lock is a little flimsy
- Too small for an adult Beardie
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Bearded Dragon Enclosures and Terrariums
Getting the right enclosure or vivarium for your Bearded Dragon is important. They will spend at least 23 hours a day, in most cases, in their enclosure. They will sleep, eat, and generally relax there. It should be comfortable and spacious, and it should also offer you ample opportunities to closely manage temperature, humidity, and lighting levels while also being easy to clean and offering access to add food and remove uneaten leftovers.
While that sounds like a lot of requirements, the popularity of the Bearded Dragon as a pet means that there are various cages from specialist companies that meet these and other requirements.
Enclosure Type
When choosing a Beardie enclosure, the first decision is the type of enclosure, typically determined by the primary material it is made of.
- Mesh – While mesh enclosures are viable for some reptiles, they are not a suitable choice for Bearded Dragons. Beardies need basking areas in their enclosures, and temperatures in these basking spots need to be kept high. In the other half of the tank, the temperature needs to be cooler. This temperature gradient is very difficult to achieve in a mesh enclosure. Furthermore, Bearded Dragons need high humidity levels which is also very difficult to achieve in a mesh enclosure.
- Wood – Wooden vivariums retain heat well and are lighter than glass vivariums but you can’t see through the wood, so you will only be able to see your pet through the glass doors. The high humidity of a Bearded Dragon’s enclosure can also damage the wood. However, wooden vivariums do tend to be cheaper than glass ones and they can be modified more easily.
- Glass – Glass vivariums look modern, and they offer unobstructed views around the whole enclosure. Glass is also very easy to clean, although it can suffer streaks and fingerprints. Glass is especially effective at retaining humidity, which makes it a good option for Bearded Dragon enclosures.
Enclosure Size
Once you’ve chosen the type of enclosure you want, you will need to find an appropriate size. Bearded Dragons generally prefer horizontal space, which means that you need an enclosure that is longer than it is tall. And, while you can buy a smaller enclosure for your Beardie when it is young, this means you will need to upgrade to something larger when it reaches about 12 months of age.
Juvenile Bearded Dragons need a tank of around 50 gallons, while adults need 80 gallons or more. The ideal length for an enclosure is 48 inches or 4 feet, with a depth of 2 feet or 24 inches, and a height of 2 feet or 24 inches. This gives the Beardie ample living space and the dimensions that this kind of terrestrial reptile requires.
Mesh Lid and Panels
While a glass enclosure is preferred for Bearded Dragons, this does necessitate finding some way to provide ventilation. A glass tank with no ventilation can prove suffocating. At best, it will lead to condensation, and it could even cause respiratory problems for your Beardie.
Most glass tanks have a mesh lid. The mesh allows air in and out but because most of the tank is glass, it still does a good job of retaining humidity. You can also find some tanks that have mesh panels on the sides. These can increase the ventilation options but may also make it more challenging to manage humidity. If humidity levels are low, it will take more misting and the enclosure will benefit from having an additional bowl of water.
Doors and Locks
The size of these enclosures means that they tend to have doors on the front, as well as potentially a top that can be removed. The front doors make it easier to access the enclosure so it will be easier to clean and easier to put insects and other food in. Options include sliding and swinging doors.
- While sliding doors take up less room, they can jam and become difficult to operate if sand or substrate gets in the track.
- Swinging doors, on the other hand, need a decent locking mechanism to make sure your Beardie doesn’t manage to push the door open and escape.
In any case, the doors need handles. Surprisingly, not all doors include dedicated handles. Some use a key lock to double up as a handle, and some sliding doors require that you push against the door and slide it using your hand.
Base Gap
Bearded Dragons do need hot areas in their enclosures, and this heat can be achieved using heat lamps and basking lamps, but these naturally give off light. Although nighttime temperature does not need to be as high, it still needs to be at a safe level.
Putting a heat mat or under-tank heater under the tank can help meet the temperature requirements, and many tanks are raised with a small gap under the base where you can place such a heater. If your Beardie will be kept somewhere where the nighttime temperature gets low, you should consider this kind of setup.
What Temperature and Humidity Do Bearded Dragons Need?
The enclosure should have a heat gradient with one end setup for basking and the other much cooler. The basking end of the tank needs to be around 100°F to 105°F while the cool end of the enclosure should be 75°F. The temperature should be monitored using two thermometers, at different ends of the enclosure.
Humidity should be kept between 30% and 40%, which can be measured using a hygrometer.
Can You Keep Two Or More Bearded Dragons in One Enclosure?
Avoid keeping two males together, but two females should be safe to be housed in one enclosure. A male and female might be okay to keep together but not until the female is at least 2 years old, and you should be prepared for them to reproduce if you do keep a pair of different genders.
When Do Bearded Dragons Reach Full Size?
Bearded Dragons will generally keep growing until they are 12 to 18 months old. By this time, they should have reached their full adult size and will need a full-size enclosure.
Should You Let Your Bearded Dragon Out of Its Enclosure?
You can let your Bearded Dragon out of its enclosure, and this is a good way to ensure that they get enough exercise. It can also offer you the chance to bond together. However, bear in mind that your room is likely to be much cooler than your Beardie’s enclosure, and if they have never been or are rarely allowed out of their tank, they can become stressed.
Start by letting your little one out for a few minutes at a time, gradually building up to around 30 or 40 minutes. If your Bearded Dragon looks like they are getting stressed or anxious while out of their enclosure, put them back in their home.
Conclusion
Bearded Dragons make great pets and are considered a greater starter reptile. They are fairly docile and tolerate handling. They are also interesting and quirky, but they do have some quite specific care requirements. In particular, they need plenty of room in their enclosure and you need to be able to maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels.
Above, we have included reviews of 10 of the best Bearded Dragon enclosures and terrariums including the Repti Zoo Glass Reptile Terrarium Sliding Doors with Screen Ventilation, which is a well-priced vivarium that is just about big enough for an average-sized adult, although a Beardie would benefit from having a bit more space. The New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge is a 120-gallon tank that is plenty big enough and really affordable, but its wooden design means it can be more difficult to clean and you will have to manage humidity more carefully than with a glass tank.
Featured Image Credit: Zh.anna, Shutterstock
