Cage size?

[AkHerps]

My adult male beardie lives in a 40 gallon breeder tank. It is furnished with lots of things for him to do. Thick branches, etc. And a half cinder block under his heat lamp for a nice basking spot.

He is 2 years old and about 16-20 inches, I haven't measured him.

For the past year he has gone through phases of freaking out in his cage. He brumated for the first time a couple months ago, and since he's been awake he is almost constantly clawing at the sides of his cage and trying to scale the sides. He also does head bob and puff up a lot since coming out of brumation.

Is a 40 gallon breeder enough space. I don't want to buy a 55 gallon if he's still going to freak out in it. But I guess I wouldn't know until I tried...

[AkHerps]

Well now I see that Beardies should be housed in something larger regardless.
Our care sheet says a 75 gallon breeder, I don't think Petco carries that size.

Would a 55 work or what is another size that would work?

[Gungirl]

I would search online and see If you can't find a 75 gallon or build your own close to that size.
I don't know if it would help with it "freaking out" but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

[AkHerps]

I don't have the time to build something, although it would be fun to do so.

And shipping a tank to alaska would cost more than the tank itself, and it would probably break. I've had a glass tank shipped here before and it arrived in pieces.

[Gungirl]

ugh.. thats no good then...sorry

[AkHerps]

I'm going to have to make one, the cage is going to cost me over 400 dollars here!!

[Action Reptiles]

Hi there the 40gl breeder is the smallest size I use for some of my adults. Ideally I have them in 4x2x2 enclosures that I build out of plywood. The size of the cage will not stop him from the behavior that you are witnessing. As you stated he recently came out of brumation and he is now in the "mating mood" and wanting to find a nice female to knock up.. All my males do this at this time of year as it is natural for them. You might try looking into reptile basics as they sell cages and I believe shipping is included not sure about Alaska but worth a shot. Rich is a great guy and he might be able to help you out if you didn't want to try to make one yourself..