A bearded dragon must be able to feel safe and secure in its terrarium. Providing a cozy hide box will go a long ways towards accomplishing this. In this article, we will go over how to select the best hide box for a bearded dragon.

It is important to provide your bearded dragon a place to feel safe and secure. Bearded dragons in the wild do not have the ability to fight off predators, so they must find a suitable place to hide.
This instinct still carries over in captivity, so you should provide a place for your bearded dragon to feel safe. A good hide box with proper placement within the bearded dragon habitat will create a sense of security. This will go a long way towards relieving possible stress.
Sometimes bearded dragons just like to get away a bit and have somewhere to relax.
Here are some things you should keep in mind for selecting shelter for your bearded dragon to chill in.
Selecting the Best Hide Box for a Bearded Dragon
A hide box can be made from just about anything that provides a secluded area for your bearded dragon and is safe to its health.
You can use clay pots, wooden planks, or even a suitable plastic bowl with a hole cut out as a doorway. You could even create your own fancy hide box.
The most important thing to remember is to make sure the hide box is large enough for your entire bearded dragon to be able to get in.
A hide box will not be adequate if the lizard cannot fit into it. The bearded dragon wants to feel safe and sometimes completely secluded. The best hide box will help to accomplish this.
There are also many different types of hide boxes available at pet stores. They work well to provide a good hide-away for your bearded dragon. Many commercial hide boxes are also nice pieces of decor for the habitat.
We recommend the Pangea Reptile Hide Box as the best hide box for a bearded dragon. It offers a very large area for the bearded dragon to relax and feel safe. It is not the most attractive option, but seems to offer the most room.
The Exo Terra Reptile Cave is an attractive option. It gives the bearded dragon a good hiding place while also giving a nice look to the terrarium set-up.
The Reptile Cave comes in a variety of different sizes, but choosing the largest size hide box in the beginning is best. You will not need to continually buy a new hide box as your bearded dragon grows.
Another fabulous option to check out is the Zilla Reptile Rock Den. It features a nice, large front opening and plenty of room for a baby or juvenile bearded dragon. It also looks pretty cool!
Selecting the Right Location for a Hide Box
Where you locate the hide box is also important. If there is room it is best to place more than one hide box in the enclosure. This gives your bearded dragon more choices of where it feels most comfortable.
It is best to place the hide box on top of the substrate in the cooler zone of the habitat. Since bearded dragons self-regulate their body temperature they can go hang out in the hide box if they begin to get too hot while basking. The hiding spot should be as far away from water sources as possible so there is not a build up of humidity within the hide-out.
Place the doorway of the hide box away from the front of the terrarium to minimize any commotion, such as you walking by. This will keep the bearded dragon from getting too stressed and help it to relax.
Imagine if you were trying to relax and people were walking by you all the time. Remember, your bearded dragon is trying to feel secluded and safe. It will not feel that way unless the hide box is positioned in such a way as to give it that seclusion.
Selecting a proper hide box for a bearded dragon can go a long way towards making it feel safe and more at home.
Jane Reynolds says
I have a four month old dragon and trying to socialize her. Would also like to let her out to run. Any suggestions on that or is she too young.?
Logan says
She is not to young because I work at a pet store and we have several bearded dragons that age and I play and socialize with them all the time
Kara says
I have my bearded dragon run stairs, when he gets to the top I start over at the bottom. He needs a tiny push to keep him moving, he loves it.
Wanda says
I let mine to run around in the apt. After they poo! I have them for more than two years. Always put hem out and in summer time by the window with the scream down for a sunbathe.
Wanda says
I let mine to run around after they poo. In the Summer they go to the window for a sunbath
michelle says
Do bearded dragons need a wet hide