The Top Bearded Dragon Cages: Ranked and Reviewed

Written by Kristin Hitchcock
Updated: February 9, 2023
© Frank C. Müller, Baden-Baden, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons – License / Original

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Bearded dragons have very specific cage needs. They cannot always “see” glass and will never understand that glass is a boundary that they cannot pass. Therefore, they will continue to hit the glass and eventually injure their snout. This dangerous behavior is often referred to by the deceptively cute expression “glass surfing.” In severe cases, this can cause mouth rot, which can be serious.

Therefore, you have to be quite cautious when picking out a cage for your bearded dragon. Sadly, most cages that are designed for bearded dragons are not actually suitable for them.

To help you out, we’ve reviewed some of our favorite bearded dragon cages on the market. Hopefully, these reviews will help you choose the perfect cage for your beardie.

  1. New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge
    • Opens in front
    • The door locks securely
    • The top can accommodate a UV and heat lamp
    • Very easy to assemble
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  2. Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Reptile Cage
    • A great option for smaller spaces
    • Made from screen mesh
    • Corrosion-resistant
    • Easy to assemble
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  3. REPTI ZOO Large Glass Reptile Terrarium
    • Features a lot of horizontal room
    • Solid background with three glass sides
    • Top screen is completely removable for easy cleaning
    • Waterproof bottom
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  4. REPTI ZOO Double Hinge Glass Reptile Terrarium
    • Best for baby animals
    • Features front doors for easy access
    • Top and side ventilation
    • Raised bottom
    Check Chewy

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for Bearded Dragon Cages

#1 Best Overall: New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge

Our choice for the #1 Best Overall bearded dragon cage is the New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge because only the front is glass. Therefore, your lizard is much less likely to rub against the glass and develop mouth rot. There are three sizes available, though you will likely need the largest size for your bearded dragon. It’s also available in two colors: grey and maple (off white).

We also like that the front opens instead of the top. This makes preparing hanging limbs and climbing structures a bit easier since they can rest undisturbed on the top. The lock on the door provides plenty of security.

Other than the front, this enclosure is made of ECOFLEX, a non-toxic, recycled plastic-wood polymer composite material that won’t warp, crack, or split. The side panels are vented to provide ventilation for your bearded dragon. Assembly is quick and easy and doesn’t require any tools.

The top is a mesh screen, which can accommodate a UV and heat lamp. Because bearded dragons will absolutely need these pieces of equipment, we highly recommend this cage.

Several reviewers reported that they received damaged pieces.

Pros and Cons of the New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge

ProsCons
Only the sliding doors on the front panel are glass.Several reviewers reported that they received damaged pieces.
It’s available in three sizes (small, medium, and large) and two colors (grey and maple, an off white).
The sliding door has a lock to secure the cage.
The remaining sides are made of ECOFLEX, a non-toxic, recycled plastic-wood polymer composite material that won’t warp, crack, or split.
Assembly is quick and easy and doesn’t require any tools.
The top is a mesh screen which can accommodate a UV lamp and a heat lamp.

Best Overall
New Age Pet ECOFLEX Mojave Reptile Lounge
  • Opens in front
  • The door locks securely
  • The top can accommodate a UV and heat lamp
  • Very easy to assemble
Check Chewy Check Amazon

2. Best Tall Cage: Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Reptile Cage

The Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Reptile Cage features a lot of vertical space. Therefore, it is a great option if you require a spacious cage with a relatively small footprint. It measures 48″(L) x 24″(W) x 24″ (H). You can easily keep whole plants and plenty of levels in this enclosure.

The cage is screen mesh, so your dragon should not run into it. We liked that the whole cage is a screen. There is no glass at all. The screen is black and corrosion-resistant.

The front door is rather large and allows you to easily access your lizard. Plus, it makes it easier to get large limbs, rocks, and plants in and out.

A few reviewers said that they received bent or broken pieces. Others reported that the cage wasn’t sturdy.

Pros and Cons of the Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Reptile Cage

ProsCons
This vertical reptile cage measures 48″(L) x 24″(W) x 24″ (H).A few reviewers said that they received bent or broken pieces.
The entire cage is black, corrosion-resistant screen mesh; there is no glass at all.Some reviewers reported that the cage wasn’t sturdy.
The large front door allows you easy access to your bearded dragon.
Best Tall Cage
Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Reptile Cage
  • A great option for smaller spaces
  • Made from screen mesh
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • Easy to assemble
Check Chewy Check Amazon

3. Best Large Cage: REPTI ZOO 85 Gallon Large Reptile Tank

The REPTI ZOO 85 Gallon Large Reptile Tank provides the ample horizontal space that adult bearded dragons require. While you can work with a vertical space when necessary, horizontal spaces are often best.

This option is quite large (47.2″ x 17.7″x 23.6″) and features a solid background. However, all three other sides are glass. Therefore, if your lizard commonly runs into the glass, this option probably isn’t the best.

We love that this tank is absolutely huge at 85 gallons. Therefore, it is best for large, mature lizards. However, even younger lizards will likely enjoy the larger space. A smaller version measuring 48″ X 18″ X 18″ (64 gallons) is also available.

The top screen is completely removable for easy cleaning. Plus, there are also sliding glass doors on the front.

A number of buyers reported that there were missing or broken parts.

Pros and Cons of the REPTI ZOO 85 Gallon Large Reptile Tank

ProsCons
This horizontal tank measures 47.2″ x 17.7″x 23.6″ (85 gallons).A number of buyers reported that there were missing or broken parts.
The background is solid but the other three sides are glass, so if your bearded dragon habitually runs into glass, this isn’t the best option for you.
It’s ideal for adult bearded dragons.
A smaller version measuring 48″ X 18″ X 18″ (64 gallons) is also available.
The top screen is removable for easy cleaning.
The front features sliding glass doors.
Best Large Cage
REPTI ZOO Large Glass Reptile Terrarium
  • Features a lot of horizontal room
  • Solid background with three glass sides
  • Top screen is completely removable for easy cleaning
  • Waterproof bottom
Check Chewy Check Amazon

4. Best for Baby Dragons: REPTI ZOO Glass Reptile Terrarium 20 Gallon (Black Glass Version)

Adult bearded dragons lots of room, so the REPTI ZOO Glass Reptile Terrarium 20 Gallon is only suitable for baby dragons. The black-out PVC back in the black glass version will help reduce your dragons’ stress. It’s collapsible for quick and easy assembly: simply expand the side and back panels, and install the side glass, front doors, and top lid per the manufacture’s video instructions.

The top screen allows you to use infrared and UVB lights. However, the front doors provide the most practical access point for inside the cage. Therefore, you won’t need to remove the lamps every time you want to access your lizard. A security lock will prevent your pet from escaping.

Top and side ventilation ensures that your bearded dragon is getting enough airflow. The screen top allows UVB and infrared light to penetrate. Four sides of this 20-gallon tank are made of full tempered glass, so if your bearded dragon “glass surfs,” this isn’t the cage for your pet.

A couple of reviewers said that this enclosure didn’t retain heat or humidity well. The latter may not be an issue for bearded dragon owners, but we suggest that you read reviews for all products you’re considering prior to purchase.

REPTI ZOO Glass Reptile Terrarium 20 Gallon (Black Glass Version)

ProsCons
This enclosure is only suitable for baby dragons, not for an adult dragon’s permanent habitat.A couple of reviewers said that this enclosure didn’t retain heat or humidity well.
The black-out PVC back will help reduce your bearded dragon’s stress.
It’s collapsible for easy assembly. Simply follow the manufacturer’s video for quick and easy assembly.
The top screen allows you to use infrared and UVB lights.
You can access your pet through the front doors without disturbing the lights.
A security lock will prevent your pet from escaping.
Top and side ventilation provides airflow and the screen top allows UVB and infrared light to penetrate.
Four sides of this 20-gallon tank are made of full tempered glass, so if your bearded dragon “glass surfs,” this isn’t the cage for your pet.
Best for Baby Dragons
REPTI ZOO Double Hinge Glass Reptile Terrarium
  • Best for baby animals
  • Features front doors for easy access
  • Top and side ventilation
  • Raised bottom
Check Chewy

Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When selecting a bearded dragon cage, there are several things that you need to keep in mind. You should consider the size, price, and ease of use, which we will discuss further below.

Size

Bearded dragons need quite a bit of room. At a bare minimum, your dragon should be given a 50-gallon tank as an adult. We included a tank this size above for those looking for the minimum option.

However, you may want to increase the size of the tank for very large and/or particularly active dragons. We included very large tanks above as well so that you can make that choice.

Price

Bearded dragon tanks can cost anywhere from $50 to $500. It mostly depends on the size of the tank, though there are also other factors involved. We recommend taking a careful look at your budget and then making a decision.

Also, if your bearded dragon is a baby, consider purchasing a tank that’s appropriate for an adult. This will save you from purchasing a second tank when your pet grows up. After all, a bearded dragon is considered to be fully grown when it reaches 11 to 12 months of age.

Ease of Use

You want to be able to access the inside of the cage easily, otherwise, cleaning, setting up the tank, and accessing your dragon will be difficult. Both top-open and front-open cages work well. It is mostly a matter of personal preference.

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About the Author

Kristin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering dogs, cats, fish, and other pets. She has been an animal writer for seven years, writing for top publications on everything from chinchilla cancer to the rise of designer dogs. She currently lives in Tennessee with her cat, dogs, and two children. When she isn't writing about pets, she enjoys hiking and crocheting.

The Top Bearded Dragon Cages: Ranked and Reviewed FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How big should my bearded dragon's tank be?

You can house a baby or juvenile bearded dragon in a 10-gallon tank. But remember that your little dragon will require additional space as it grows. By the time it reaches 11 to 12 months of age, it will need to live in a 50-gallon long tank.

 

 

 

Do I need to add branches to my bearded dragon's cage?

Bearded dragons are semi-arboreal, so they need to climb. Be sure to include a minimum of one branch for each bearded dragon. Each branch should be as tall as possible and should be from a non-toxic wood such as grape vines, oak, driftwood, and maple.

Some wood species that are toxic to bearded dragons are pine, cedar, cypress, and juniper.

 

 

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