Bearded Dragon Shopping List
ReptiFiles’ Bearded Dragon “Starter Kit”
I get it — setting up a bearded dragon enclosure can be overwhelming! That’s why this page is a list of the bearded dragon supplies that ReptiFiles personally recommends for the health of your new pet, as well as your own peace of mind. In other words, your shopping has practically been done for you.
Although bearded dragons are commonly recommended as an ideal “first pet,” please note that even the easiest reptiles can be expensive and high-maintenance to keep. If you are not prepared to purchase everything required for the health and wellbeing of a bearded dragon, this is not the pet for you.
It’s one thing to have the right equipment, but it’s quite another to set them up correctly. Make sure to read the rest of this guide so you know how to put together an optimal bearded dragon enclosure!
Enclosure
(See the Enclosure Size page for more options. Other styles of enclosure have different types of mesh on top, and may require different strengths of heat and UVB as a result.)
Heating
- Exo Terra Intense Basking Spot bulbs, x2 (see Heating page for wattage recommendations)
- Zoo Med Combo Deep Dome Dual Lamp Fixture
- 50w Arcadia Deep Heat Projector for supplementary ambient warmth
- Zoo Med Mini Deep Dome Lamp Fixture, x2
- Herpstat 4 thermostat as a failsafe
- Etekcity 774 Temperature Gun for surface temps
- Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer & Hygrometer for basking surface temps and humidity monitoring
Lighting & UVB
- 36″ Arcadia T5 HO Desert 14% UVB Kit for essential UVB
- 34” Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED Bar + 22″ Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED Bar for essential illumination
- Zilla 24/7 Digital Power Center, x2
Humidity Management
Functional Décor (Environmental Enrichment)
- 4 cubic ft clean sand*
- 2 cubic ft fertilizer-free topsoil* (not potting mix)
- Toad Ranch Bask N Hide, x2 for warm & cool hides
- large ghostwood branch, x2
- flagstones or large paver stones, x3*
- XL cork bark flats, x2
- large artificial plants, x5
Feeding Supplies
- Water bowl
- Salad plate
- Escape-resistant insect bowl
- Miner-All Outdoor supplement for calcium and trace minerals
- Repashy Supervite multivitamin powder
- Soft-tipped feeding tweezers
Health Supplies
*You can save a LOT of money on shipping costs by buying these items at your local landscaping supply or garden center.
Keep in mind that all supplies should be purchased and set up BEFORE you get the bearded dragon. This will save you a lot of stress, and does your new pet a big favor, too.
Additional Tips
Do not purchase bearded dragons younger than 3 months old, as hatchlings are fragile, defensive, easily stressed, and more likely to die shortly after purchase. If it’s skinny and tiny, it’s most likely too small to be sold. Ask the pet store or the breeder the age of the dragon — if they don’t know for sure, take your business elsewhere.
I also recommend finding an experienced reptile veterinarian in your area. It’s always better to do a little bit of research when nothing’s wrong than to find yourself in a panic when your pet gets sick. Check out the ReptiFiles Reptile Vet Directory to get started.
