Quick Answer
The tank of a bearded dragon should be cleaned at least once a week, more often if it gets very soiled. Spot clean daily to remove feces and uneaten food. Do a full tank clean weekly, removing all substrate and decor to disinfect and rinse thoroughly.
How Often to Spot Clean the Tank
Bearded dragons are messy eaters and poop frequently, so their tanks can get dirty very quickly. Uneaten food and feces should be removed daily to keep the tank sanitary. Here are some tips for effective spot cleaning:
- Use a scooper or tongs to remove any droppings or uneaten food. Discard in the trash.
- Replace any heavily soiled substrate in localized areas as needed. Do not stir up substrate.
- Spray any dirty areas with a pet-safe disinfectant and wipe with paper towels.
- Check decor items like branches and rocks for mess and clean as needed.
- Spot clean any water bowls and replace water daily.
Aim to do a quick spot clean at least once per day, twice daily if your dragon is very young or makes a lot of mess. This will help control odors and prevent bacterial growth between full tank cleans.
How Often to Do a Full Tank Clean
In addition to daily spot cleans, the entire bearded dragon tank should be cleaned and disinfected once per week. Here are some tips for full tank cleans:
- Remove your bearded dragon from the tank temporarily and place in a safe enclosure.
- Discard any disposable substrates like newspaper or carpets.
- Remove all decor items and clean thoroughly with soap and water.
- For permanent substrates like tile or reptile carpet, clean with a pet-safe disinfectant.
- Disinfect tank walls and floor. Allow to dry fully before replacing any contents.
- Replace substrate, decor items, water bowl etc. Provide fresh water.
- Wash food bowls, platforms and hides in hot soapy water.
Doing a full tank clean weekly helps remove bacteria, prevents mold growth, and keeps your pet’s habitat clean and healthy. It’s important to use a reptile-safe disinfectant and rinse thoroughly.
Signs It’s Time to Clean the Tank
In addition to regular cleaning, look for these signs that indicate it’s time to clean your bearded dragon’s tank:
- A strong odor from the tank
- Visible feces or urates coating surfaces
- Leftover food debris
- Discolored or soiled substrate
- Condensed water on tank walls
- Green or black mold/algae growth
- Your dragon smearing mess around tank
Don’t wait for the next scheduled cleaning if you notice any of these issues. Take immediate action to spot clean or do a full tank disinfection to resolve hygiene problems.
Cleaning the Tank More Frequently
Some situations may require cleaning the bearded dragon tank more than the typical recommendation of daily spot cleans and weekly full cleans. More frequent cleaning may be necessary when:
- The tank is very small – less dilution of mess
- You use a particulate substrate like calci-sand
- Your dragon is a very messy drinker or frequent pooper
- Your dragon is sick – higher risk of bacteria
- There are multiple dragons housed together
- The tank is in a high humidity environment
- Temperatures are kept at the higher end of the range
For any of these situations, aim to spot clean twice daily and do full tank cleans at least twice weekly. Removing mess and sanitizing frequently will help manage hygiene.
Cleaning the Tank Less Frequently
It’s generally not recommended to clean the tank any less than described. But in some cases, it may be possible to spot clean every other day and do full cleans biweekly. This includes:
- An adult dragon in a very large tank
- Using slate tile or paper towel substrate
- A healthy dragon who deposits waste in one area
- Only one dragon housed in the tank
- The tank is kept in a cooler environment
Monitor the tank closely and be prepared to clean whenever necessary if decreasing the frequency. Never allow the habitat to become unsanitary between cleans.
Cleaning Steps for a Full Tank Clean
Here is a step-by-step guide for doing a thorough full tank cleaning:
- Remove your bearded dragon – place in secure holding enclosure
- Discard any disposable substrates, droppings, or debris
- Remove all decor items and clean well with soap/water
- Clean tank walls, floor with pet-safe disinfectant and rinse off
- Discard and replace particulate substrates like reptile carpet
- Clean permanent substrates like tile with disinfectant
- Let tank dry fully before returning contents
- Replace decor items and substrates in clean tank
- Wash food/water bowls with hot soapy water
- Provide fresh, clean water in bowl
- Return dragon to clean, dry, set-up tank
Essential Cleaning Supplies
To properly clean a bearded dragon tank, you’ll want to have the following supplies on hand:
- Paper towels or soft rags
- Reptile-safe disinfectant spray or wipes
- Dish soap and water
- Sponge or scrub brush
- Scoop or tongs for removing waste
- Extra empty enclosure for holding dragon during clean
Removing Built-Up Mess
With regular cleaning, tank mess shouldn’t cake on too badly. But if you’ve lapsed on cleaning, here are some tips for removing stubborn debris:
- Soak decor or substrates in a dilute bleach solution to loosen mess, then scrub clean
- Use a plastic scrub pad or brush to scrub off dried feces
- For tough water stains, use white vinegar and rinse very thoroughly after
- Repeat applications of pet-safe disinfectant for killing resistant bacteria
Disinfecting the Tank
It’s critical to use the right disinfectant to kill bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens when cleaning a reptile tank. Important tips include:
- No harsh household cleaners – choose pet-safe products
- Avoid strong scented products
- 10% bleach solution can disinfect if thoroughly rinsed later
- Vinegar is a natural disinfectant
- Spray and wipe decor items outside tank
- Dispose of gloves after cleaning – don’t reuse
Best Cleaning Practices
Follow these best practices when cleaning your bearded dragon’s tank for good hygiene:
- Spot clean daily to remove feces/food
- Do a full tank clean weekly minimum
- Discard soiled particulate substrates
- Disinfect all surfaces including decor items
- Use appropriate reptile-safe products
- Rinse thoroughly after any disinfectant use
- Dry tank fully before returning contents
- Immediately clean up any visible mess or odor
- Wash hands well after cleaning the habitat
Common Cleaning Mistakes
When cleaning your bearded dragon’s habitat, be sure to avoid these common cleaning mistakes:
- Not cleaning frequently enough – should clean daily to weekly
- Using strong chemical cleaners not meant for pets
- Failing to rinse off soap or disinfectants fully
- Not removing dragons from tank during cleaning
- Allowing excessive mess to accumulate between cleans
- Disturbing and stirring up particulate substrates
- Not replacing water and food bowls frequently
- Not fully drying tank before returning contents
- Using dirty equipment like brushes or scoops for cleaning
Signs of an Unhealthy Tank
Improper cleaning and tank hygiene can negatively impact your bearded dragon’s health. Watch for these signs of an unhealthy tank environment:
- Strong unpleasant odor
- Visible feces or mold/algae growth
- Frequent staining of surfaces
- Dirty water and food bowls
- Lethargic or less active dragon
- Loss of appetite or other behavioral changes
- Signs of infection like mouth rot
- Retained shedding skin
Poor tank hygiene stresses your pet’s health. React right away if you notice any of these issues by doing a thorough clean.
FAQs about Cleaning Bearded Dragon Tank
Can I use bleach to clean the tank?
Yes, a 10% bleach solution can disinfect a tank effectively. But it’s critical to rinse surfaces multiple times after to remove any bleach residue.
How do I choose a good tank cleaner?
Look for cleaners specifically formulated for reptile habitats. Avoid scented products. Vinegar works well for cleaning and disinfecting.
Is tap water safe for my dragon’s tank?
Tap water typically has chemicals like chlorine added. Use water conditioner to remove chlorine and chloramines so it’s safe if ingested.
Can I use soap when cleaning the tank?
Yes, use a small amount of unscented dish soap on hard decor items. Avoid using soap directly inside the tank and rinse very thoroughly after cleaning.
How do I clean calcium buildup?
Soak decor items coated in calcium in diluted vinegar to dissolve it. Scrub gently and rinse thoroughly. Limit loose calcium in the tank.
Is it safe for my dragon to lick the tank walls?
No, the walls can harbor bacteria. Remove buildups and sanitize at each cleaning. Supervise dragons and redirect licking.
Conclusion
Keeping your bearded dragon’s tank clean is crucial for good health and wellbeing. A basic schedule to maintain is daily spot cleaning to remove waste and weekly full tank disinfection. Clean even more frequently if housing juveniles or multiple dragons. Deep clean the tank at the first signs of mess or odor buildup. Always use appropriate pet-safe cleaners and completely dry the tank between cleanings. Proper tank hygiene takes some work but is vital for a healthy habitat.
