Vivarium

Vivariums come in many shapes and sizes. They can be a glass reptile tank, a plastic reptile rack system, or a customized wooden enclosure. Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, but all are appropriate homes for your bearded dragon.
 * Glass Tank: A glass tank is readily available at nearly any pet store. They come in a wide variety of sizes. You will need at least a 20 gallon long tank for a baby dragon. Although a baby can comfortably move around in a 10 gallon tank, it is hard, if not impossible, to achieve a proper temperature gradient in a tank that small (see Section 3 for further details). A 20 gallon long is 30 inches long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches tall. Once your dragon reaches 10 to 12 inches in length, it will need a minimum of a 40 gallon breeder tank. This tank is 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 16 inches tall. You can use a bigger tank, but it should not be any less than 36 inches long and 18 inches wide. For this reason, a typical 55 gallon tall tank is not suitable for a bearded dragon, as it is only 12 inches wide. My suggestion with a glass tank would be to start out with a 40 gallon breeder no matter the age of your dragon. If your dragon seems intimidated by the large space or has trouble catching prey items, you can partition the tank with a thick piece of cardboard, opaque Plexiglas, or plastic. Just make sure that the partition is solid and secure.


 * Reptile Rack: Mostly used by breeders, you can order stackable reptile vivariums. Although they are not cheap, this may be a good option if you own multiple reptiles. They come in a wide variety of sizes, but make sure that each individual space adheres to the dimensions described above.

My recommendation to a new bearded dragon owner would be to take the safe route of a 40 gallon breeder glass tank initially. They are easy to find, and do not require any assembly. As you become more experienced, you may choose to build a vivarium yourself, or try out different sized tanks. Just remember that each time you move your bearded dragon, he is likely to go through some relocation stress.
 * Customized Wooden Enclosure: You can make or order customized wooden vivariums for your bearded dragon. Ideally, these are about 4 feet long by 2 feet wide by 2 feet tall. This gives your dragon ample space without being intimidated. The benefits of a wooden enclosure are that you can mount lighting to the roof of the vivarium, they are typically front-opening, and they are highly customizable with homemade furniture. The downsides are cost and weight.