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"Pet Bearded Dragon Care & Information (Pogona vitticeps)"

Outdoor Bearded Dragon Enclosure

Bearded Dragon Outdoors

Even if all the recommended lighting needs are met in terms of artificial sources, it is still advised to expose a Bearded dragon to full, unfiltered sunlight. Bearded dragons should be exposed to at least one hour of sunlight per day, but two or more hours is strongly advised if no artificial lighting is supplied.

The best way to get full unfiltered UV exposure is by taking your Bearded dragon outside. Some keepers prefer to sit outside with their dragons to make sure nothing goes wrong. In this case a Bearded dragon harness will help for basic restrain.

Outdoor Bearded Dragon Enclosure

Because it is not always possible to sit outside for long periods of time, some sort of outdoor bearded dragon enclosure can be used. A Bearded dragon outside enclosure can be anything from a more permanent Bearded dragon reptilliary to a smaller two to three foot portable Bearded dragon outdoor cage.

In older literature outside Bearded dragon enclosures carried preferences over inside enclosures because proper UV lighting was less advanced and available during those times. Remember that although lighting technology has undergone advancements during the last few decades, artificial UV is still not 100% adequate for Bearded dragons. 

Bearded Dragon Outdoor Enclosure

There is no set of rules for constructing a Bearded dragon outdoor enclosure as long as it complies with all the requirements of inside Bearded dragon housing.

Important points to emphasize with regards to Bearded dragon outside enclosures are the following:

• The enclosure must be situated in an area where it is emitted by natural sunlight throughout the day and the entire area of the enclosure must be emitted.
   

• The entire area must be free of potential harmful pesticides.
   

• The outside temperatures must be within the recommended range for Bearded dragons (24 – 34 ºC / 75 – 93 ºF temperature gradient and a 35 – 40 ºC / 95 – 104 ºF basking are, with night temperatures not lower than 17 ºC / 63 ºF).
   

• Adequate patches of shade must be provided for the dragons to hide when the temperatures become too hot. Shade can be supplied more naturally by means of rock caves, non-toxic trees or bushes or artificially by any form of hide boxes.
   

• The materials used for the sides of the enclosure must be secure enough to prevent escapes (esp. when housing baby Beardies), but more importantly it must let natural sunlight through. Glass absorbs UV rays and can act as a magnifying glass and should be avoided at all costs! Wire mesh and brick / cement walls are popular choices.
   

• The sides of big enclosures and trees / bushes should be modified or enforced to prevent Beardies from climbing up. A Bearded dragon will not be able to climb down vertical obstacles and might get injured after falling from high areas. One way is to construct or cover the first 50 cm / 20 " from the bottom with a smooth material. This will also prevent any possible nose abrasions from Beardies trying to climb out.
   

• Beardies should be observed closely for any behavioral changes, especially during the first few weeks and during the breeding season. When abnormal Bearded dragon behavior is observed the enclosure must be adapted or the dragons must be separated or returned to the recommended in-house enclosure.
   

• Water should be provided in a large shallow container with a gradual, non-slippery sloap or ramp for small animals to climb out.

It is not recommended to house baby and juvenile Beardies in large open outside enclosures as they might get lost or they might not be able to handle the stress associated with everything that is going on outside. It is obvious that the view of the enclosure must be free of threatening humans, birds and animals like dogs and cats and the enclosure itself must be protected from snakes, birds and rodents. Because the outside environment can expose a Bearded dragon to much more potential parasites when compared with in-house enclosures, regular veterinary check-ups with adequate faecal samples are recommended.

The Advanced Bearded Dragon Manual
For Basic & Advanced Bearded dragon care incl. Outdoor Enclosures & more...
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