Picking the best terrarium or cage for your bearded dragon is one of the most important things you’ll do as an owner.
The right enclosure serves as the foundation of all your future care efforts. It allows you to decorate wisely, set up light effectively, and keep your pet happy.
But at first glance, all the terrariums, cages, and enclosures for bearded dragons look the same. They’re just class sides with simple frames, right?
Not exactly.
When it comes to the best bearded dragon enclosures, there’s a lot to think about. Dimensions, build quality, and safety are just a few of the factors to consider.
And that’s why we put together this guide. In it, you’ll learn about all of the best options for your bearded dragon (with some handy details about each).
By the time you’re done reading it, you’ll be ready to make a purchase!
Table of Contents
Our List Of The Best Terrariums And Cages
Coming up with this list required a mix of existing experience and fresh research. We had direct experience with each of the products that made the list, but wanted to look at everything with fresh eyes just to be sure.
We sourced feedback from other highly experienced reptile owners and took polls online as well. All of this gave us a great place to start.
From there it was simply about testing bearded dragon cages and terrariums that we hadn’t used before and putting together our final list. We’re quite happy with the way it turned out, and hope you find the information helpful!
1. Reptile Glass Terrarium With Double Hinge Door & Screen Ventilation By REPTI ZOO
To start off our list we have one of the most respected bearded dragon terrariums on the market. This product by REPTI ZOO has been trusted by tons of owners over the years, and it’s still as popular as ever (we know plenty of people that have this).
- Dimensions: 36″ x 18″ x 18″
- Tough screen top provides ventilation and allows uvb and infrared penetration
- Front doors can open separately for easy feeding
- Easy 5 minute setup process
With dimensions of 36 x 18 x 18 inches, this offers plenty of space for your bearded dragon to walk around. It also allows you to add a solid amount of decorations and variety without making things too crowded for them.
The build quality is fantastic and you can tell REPTI ZOO put a lot of time into planning out the design to maximize functionality. The bottom frame is actually elevated to make room for a substrate heater (we love this).
The bottom is waterproof too which means you can either use it as a desert terrarium or a rainforest tank, which is a nice option.
We really like the double hinged doors on the front of this enclosure. These make feeding time easy and allow you to access different parts of the habitat without too much rooting around.
It’s also very well ventilated. There are spots for airflow, wires, and tubes on the upper parts of the cage.
Despite all this functionality, it’s actually really easy to set up. A lot of the best bearded dragon terrariums and cages have a bit of a learning curve in this regard, but this product by REPTI ZOO doesn’t have that problem.
Pros:
- Safe and durable build quality
- Waterproof bottom with space for a substrate heater
- Great ventilation and screen
- Easy setup
Cons:
- Not big enough for elaborate habitat setups
2. Tall Easy Assembly Terrarium For Bearded Dragons By Carolina Custom Cages
This is another fantastic terrarium for bearded dragons that has dimensions similar to the REPTI ZOO cage above. We’ve been a fan of Carolina Custom Cages for quite a while, and this enclosure is a perfect example of why.
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This terrarium is 36 x 18 x 18 inches which gives you plenty of space to include a variety of decorations that your bearded dragon will enjoy. This is also handy for light positioning as well.
The front of this cage has hinged doors that pivot open with ease. Even after prolonged use, these hinges continue to glide quite nicely.
For added security, these terrariums also have key locks so you can be sure your bearded dragon stays where it’s supposed to! This is a neat feature that many other cages don’t have.
This product also has a waterproof base which is always great. It will reduce the amount of cleanup you have to do, and prevent an accelerated breakdown of the structure itself.
It’s one of the prettiest terrariums on our list as well. The glass is very clear which makes it easy to see what your little critter is up to! It will also reduce the chance of a reflection confusing them and causing them to wave excessively or glass surf.
We definitely recommend reading the instructions during the installation process. While it’s not rocket science, it can be a little bit tricky when first starting out.
Pros:
- Beautiful clear glass
- Key lock security
- Waterproof bottom
Cons:
- Expensive
- Assembly is a bit tricky
3. Short All Glass Terrarium (24 by 18 by 12-Inch) By Exo Terra
This is a slightly smaller terrarium that we really like. At 24 x 18 x 12 inches, it doesn’t boast the interior space of the other bearded dragon terrariums and cages on our list. For this reason, we tend to recommend this for younger specimens before they reach adulthood.
- Patented front window ventilation
- Escape-proof dual doors lock
- Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 12 inches
- Closable inlets for wires and/or tubing management
Exo Terra is a fantastic company that has a long track record of creating high-quality products. When it comes to enclosures, terrariums, cages, and tanks, this company knows what it’s doing.
This terrarium has all the standard features you would expect from a high-quality product, but with a more affordable price. You get great ventilation, closable inlets, and a strong waterproof bottom that is up for any challenge.
One of our favorite features about this cage is the screen at the top. While this isn’t something many reviewers cover, we were impressed by the durability and design. It does a great job of letting UVB light in for your bearded dragon while also allowing air to escape.
The front has two hinged doors that can give you the option you access any part of the enclosure with ease. You can also remove the screen at the top if you need to get a different angle.
If you’re looking for a bearded dragon terrarium that isn’t massive, this is the best one without a doubt.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Great screen for ventilation and light
- Top-notch build quality
Cons:
- A little bit smaller than the other cages on our list
4. Extra-Long Terrarium By Carolina Custom Cages
Last but not least, we have the largest enclosure on our list. At a whopping 48 x 18 x 18 inches, this is a great choice if you want to go all-out for your bearded dragon.
- Strong screen top for ventilation and security
- Crystal clear glass sides
- Key-lock security on doors
- Deep waterproof base
In general, it offers a lot of the same features as their smaller product on our list. You get great hinged doors in front, which are essential when you start to maintain larger terrariums. These doors also have a trustworthy lock to make sure your bearded dragon doesn’t go on a surprise exploration.
There’s the same high-quality build across the board with the waterproof base and sturdy frame as well. When you pick this thing up you can just tell it’s built to last!
Despite the glass panes being larger, there’s no drop in quality. Viewing your bearded dragon and the rest of the habitat is a pleasure with this enclosure. All the colors just seem to pop.
The obvious downside of getting a large cage is the cost. You’re paying for a lot of glass and a durable frame to support it. With that being said, it’s definitely priced fairly if you’re set on something this large.
Pros:
- Very durable build
- Secure lock
- Crystal clear glass
Cons:
- Expensive
- Installation can be a challenge
What To Look For In An Enclosure
When it comes to choosing the best bearded dragon cage or terrarium, there are a few factors you need to consider. While we’ve already put together our list with these in mind, it’s good to understand what they are.
While there are a lot of subtle differences and details you can agonize over, the factors below cover 95% of what matters. If you come across any enclosure that doesn’t do a good job in one of these areas, move on to another.
Security
Security is something that many new bearded dragon owners overlook. They’re so busy thinking about things like lighting, space, and decorations that they forget the possibility of their pet escaping!
This means you want to have some kind of assurance in the quality and design of the terrarium. Gaps that can be accessed, top screens that aren’t sturdy, or doors that open too easily are all common issues you want to keep an eye out for.
It’s also important to think about the possibility of other pets getting into your bearded dragon enclosure. Cats are the most common culprit when it comes to this, so pay extra attention if you own one as well.
Safety
Safety is another extremely important factor to consider. All of the best bearded dragon terrariums are extremely safe for the animals living inside them.
This means no parts of the cage that could potentially pinch them or break off and fall. If you’re relying on part of the enclosure to mount some lighting for example, it’s important that it’s structurally sound!
We would also put ventilation in the safety category as well. You need to make sure that light and heat are coming into the basking area without cooking your bearded dragon. Ventilation helps everything stay dry, safe, and comfortable.
This is something that you can usually feel out initially by feeling the build quality and inspecting the design. However, you can’t be 100% sure about it until you use the cage for a while (that’s why a list like this is so helpful).
Durability
Durability does tie in with safety a bit, but for the sake of this section we’re mostly interested in the longevity of the cage. All of the best bearded dragon cages are well-built, durable, and will last for quite a while.
Even if you can afford it, you don’t want to be changing enclosures all the time if you can avoid it. It’s better to keep your bearded dragon in an area where they feel safe and comfortable whenever possible.
A terrarium that falls apart on you is something to avoid. Obviously this is something you can’t know until you try them out, which is why we spent the time testing these out (so you don’t have to).
Size
The size of your bearded dragon terrarium is obviously important. If you run out and buy a general reptile enclosure that’s too small for these animals, it’s not going to work out too well.
You can get away with a smaller cage at first when they’re young. However, as they grow you’ll be forced to upgrade the size of their space.
This is why we typically just recommend getting an enclosure for your bearded dragon that they can grow into. They’ll have a place where they feel familiar as they grow up, and you don’t have to do any swapping as they get larger.
All of the bearded dragon cages on our list will fit this requirement.
Bonus: Avoid Kits
If you’ve done some shopping already there’s a good chance you’ve seen some bearded dragon enclosure kits. While this looks like a convenient option at first, we recommend avoiding them.
Here’s why:
These kits are notorious for having poor build quality and subpar components. So even if you’re getting a cage, light, hiding spots, and more, they’re usually not made very well.
This means you’ll likely be replacing them shortly anyway (nullifying any up-front costs you saved), or potentially dealing with a safety issue.
It’s really not worth it.
Wrapping Up
Each of the best bearded dragon cages and terrariums have a few things in common. They’re well-made, safe, durable, and secure.
After that, it’s more about your preference and ideal enclosure setup. If you’re looking for something elaborate, get a large tank. If you want the very best viewing quality, get one with crystal clear glass!
No matter what you’re looking for, we think you’ll be quite happy with any of the enclosures on our list. We spent a good amount of time researching them (and even more time using them) to make sure our recommendations hold up.
If you have any products you think we should consider adding to the list, we’re more than happy to talk with you. Simply reach out to us via our contact email and we’ll get back to you ASAP!
