Bearded dragons are social reptiles that make great pets. However, it can be overwhelming to find affordable décor for your beardie’s enclosure. Commercially produced products can be pricey, and they may not always be built to last.
One way to overcome this issue is to make your own DIY accessories for the enclosure. Here are some of the best ways to make your bearded dragon’s tank more natural and enriching.
The 10 DIY Bearded Dragon Enclosure Ideas
1. Fake Basking Rock by Instructables
| Materials: | Styrofoam, grout mix, cement color, expanding foam insulator, water, water-based polyacrylic satin sealer |
| Tools: | Knives, hand saws, hot glue, hot glue gun, bucket, paint brushes |
| Difficulty: | Moderate to hard |
This fake basking rock will bring a sense of realism to your beardie’s enclosure without breaking the bank. The most important part of this project is taking the time to plan ahead. You need to have a clear vision to guide you in making the basking rock. Otherwise, you may just end up with a mess on your hands.
This is a great project if you have a few days to work on it. You can customize it to fit the enclosure, the other décor in the enclosure, or a specific look you’re going for. No matter how it turns out, your bearded dragon will love having a new basking rock built just for them.
2. Homemade Basking Rock by Bearded Dragon Advice
| Materials: | 1” Styrofoam board, grout, styrofoam-safe glue, Mod Podge, water-based waterproof sealer |
| Tools: | Knife or small hand saw, pins |
| Difficulty: | Easy to moderate |
This homemade basking rock is an easy project that you can most likely put together in a day or two. However, make sure to provide adequate drying time for all of the elements before adding them to the enclosure. You will also need to ensure it fits the space correctly, so try it out in the enclosure once it’s held together with pins before you start gluing.
You should use glue that adequately seals the basking rock with the grout and sealer. This will ensure the Styrofoam doesn’t melt when exposed to the heat of the basking light.
3. DIY Rock Wall by Gecko Time
| Materials: | 1” Styrofoam board, toothpicks, joint compound, liquid nails, textured stone spray paint, protective sealer |
| Tools: | Utility knife, tape measure, sharpie |
| Difficulty: | Moderate to hard |
This DIY rock wall project is a great way to create a cool backdrop for your bearded dragon’s enclosure. It can also double as a basking spot. You can customize the size, shape, and finished look of this rock wall to suit your tank’s look and your beardie’s needs. If you already have plenty of basking space, this project can serve as a tank backdrop.
4. Fake Rock DIY by Reptile Forums
| Materials: | Styrofoam, waterproof PVA glue, grout, water, sand |
| Tools: | Sharpie, knife |
| Difficulty: | Easy to moderate |
This fake rock project is a great way to create rocks for any part of the enclosure, from cool to basking and everything in between. You can fully customize it to fit the tank, and the instructions even include a small opening for a food bowl.
This project requires the use of sand, which will give it a more realistic stone look. However, it is important to ensure that the rock is thoroughly coated in the waterproof PVA glue before and after the application of the sand. This will prevent the sand from loosening.
5. Homemade Hide by Caudata.org
| Materials: | Aquarium-safe silicone, rocks, plastic food storage container, fake plants (optional) |
| Tools: | Scissors or box cutter, sharpie |
| Difficulty: | Easy to moderate |
This homemade hide is a great way to use supplies you may already have at home from other projects, like silicone and river rocks. Ideally, you should use a new food storage container for this project, but you could also use one that has been thoroughly washed and that you are sure doesn’t have anything on it that may be dangerous for your beardie.
When constructing this project, be careful when making the cuts, as cutting through this type of plastic can be difficult. Make sure to smooth out any sharp edges to keep your beardie from hurting themselves when using the hide.
6. Excavator Clay Tunnels by Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.
| Materials: | Excavator clay, water |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
The excavator clay from ZooMed is a great way to DIY your beardie’s enclosure because you can customize the tunnels and mounds to fit your tank. When mixed and used correctly, excavator clay will hold its shape, and the tunnels you create won’t collapse.
This product is a great way to create a customized tank setup that mimics the bearded dragon’s natural environment. By creating a grassland or desert environment, you can help your dragon feel at home.
7. Bearded Dragon DIY Hammock by Procraftination!
| Materials: | Thin cardboard, towel or washcloth, yarn, beads, suction cups |
| Tools: | Scissors, packing tape |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
A hammock provides enrichment to your beardie, and this DIY bearded dragon hammock is an easy and quick way to supply that. Make sure to position the hammock low enough for your dragon to climb into without too much effort but high enough that it feels different to them than being on the ground.
Once you’ve put it together, it isn’t easy to keep this hammock clean, so it may require regular replacement. However, it is a good way to use up items you have around the house that usually go into the trash can, like old towels and washcloths, as well as thin cardboard boxes, like those for cereal and crackers.
8. Bridge Hammock by PetDIYs
| Materials: | Square wooden dowels, twine, nuts, suction cups |
| Tools: | Drill |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
If the soft hammock doesn’t seem like something your beardie will enjoy, this DIY bridge hammock might be the way to go. It functions like a hammock but looks like a bridge, and you can connect it between two points in the tank to make it function as a bridge.
This project isn’t particularly difficult, but it requires using a drill. If you can’t find short square dowels, you will need a saw that will allow you to cut the dowels to size. Once the necessary cuts are made and the holes are drilled, this project is easy and shouldn’t take very long to assemble.
9. DIY Dragon Ball by PetDIY
| Materials: | Ping-pong ball |
| Tools: | Non-toxic marker |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
One of the best things you can do for your bearded dragon is to find ways to create a more enriching environment. Balls are a great toy for bearded dragons because they activate their hunting instincts.
When choosing a ball, it must be large enough that your beardie cannot swallow it. Ping-pong balls are the perfect size and weight for most beardies to play with. This DIY ball toy will provide hours of entertainment for your reptile.
10. DIY Lizard Hides by Reptile Creation
| Materials: | Insulation foam, non-toxic paint, Exo-Terra desert sand |
| Tools: | Knife |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
These lizard hides are a great way to use up insulation foam you may have from construction projects. This project can be completed in an afternoon, but you may need a little extra time for the paint to drive.
Your bearded dragon will love having these hides in their enclosure, and the insulation foam will help retain heat.
Conclusion
These DIY plans can improve your beardie’s enclosure and make it a healthier and more interesting environment. Make sure to take precautions with your DIY projects. All supplies should be safe for your bearded dragon to touch.
- See also: Best Sands for Bearded Dragons
Featured Image Credit: Worraket, Shutterstock
Contents
- The 10 DIY Bearded Dragon Enclosure Ideas
- 1. Fake Basking Rock by Instructables
- 2. Homemade Basking Rock by Bearded Dragon Advice
- 3. DIY Rock Wall by Gecko Time
- 4. Fake Rock DIY by Reptile Forums
- 5. Homemade Hide by Caudata.org
- 6. Excavator Clay Tunnels by Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.
- 7. Bearded Dragon DIY Hammock by Procraftination!
- 8. Bridge Hammock by PetDIYs
- 9. DIY Dragon Ball by PetDIY
- 10. DIY Lizard Hides by Reptile Creation
- Conclusion
