{"id":3396,"date":"2021-11-08T01:46:55","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T01:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reptilesguide.com\/?p=3396"},"modified":"2022-11-03T19:30:57","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T19:30:57","slug":"do-bearded-dragons-need-a-hiding-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reptilesguide.com\/do-bearded-dragons-need-a-hiding-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Bearded Dragons Need A Hiding Place?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most creatures will spend a lot of time in burrows, rocks, and underground when they are not active. As for bearded dragons, you may wonder, do bearded dragons need a hiding place?<\/p>\n

Yes, bearded dragons need a hiding place. This is where they will go when they are stressed, scared, or threatened. Also, a hide is a place to help them stay cool from the sun or the basking lamp and a place for them to sleep. Without a hide, the bearded dragon could become stressed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why Does My Bearded Dragon Need A Hiding Place?<\/h2>\n

For bearded dragons, hiding places are very important. Hides make them feel secure and a place to hide from the sun.<\/p>\n

In the wild, bearded dragons will spend most of their time in a hide. This is a natural part of their lives. Also, it’s an instinct to hide to protect themselves from predators and the other dangers that make be nearby.<\/p>\n

When it comes to your bearded dragons, even though they were raised in captivity, they will still have the instinct to hide.<\/p>\n

While they are kept safe in an enclosure, they will still feel unsafe. This could be other animals you may have in the house, especially cats and dogs. These creatures are curious animals and will tend to snoop around the enclosure.<\/p>\n

Besides other pets in the house, other things such as shows on television, birds outside the window, and even guests in your house can seem like a threat to them.<\/p>\n

Without a hide, all these things can stress the bearded dragon out. Enduring stress for a long period of time could cause them to become ill, and even worse they can die from it.<\/p>\n

How to Choose Hide for Bearded Dragons
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There are many different hides available on the market. They come in all sorts of colors and materials. Some are made from natural materials, while others are made from plastic.<\/p>\n

You’ll want to choose hides that replicate their natural habitat. Bearded dragons are native to woodlands and deserts. These places will usually have logs, rocks, and<\/p>\n

Choose the right hide for your enclosure setup. If you have a desert environment, you’ll want to use logs and rocks as their hides. These are naturally found in their natural environment.<\/p>\n

The main purpose of having a hide is to make your pet bearded dragons feel safe and a place to get away from the hot sun.<\/p>\n

Things to Consider Before Buying A Hide for Bearded Dragons
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Below are the elements you should look for when shopping for a hide:<\/p>\n

Toxic-free<\/h3>\n

Hide that is good quality should be toxic-free. This means during the manufacturing process, no chemicals of any kind should be used.<\/p>\n

Some manufacturers use chemicals to produce colors, textures, and to remove particles from the material.<\/p>\n

While washing the hide could remove the chemicals from it, not all of the chemicals can be removed.<\/p>\n

When the hide becomes wet due to water or food spilled on it, some of the chemicals may start to evaporate into the air and come in contact with your bearded dragon.<\/p>\n

The chemicals that are left on the hide could cause your bearded dragon to become sick.<\/p>\n

Therefore, you should always buy a good quality hide. It will cause a little bit more, but it’s all worth it for the health of your pet bearded dragon.<\/p>\n

Material<\/h3>\n

The material that’s used for the hide is important to the bearded dragons. This is where they will be spending most of their time during the day and at night.<\/p>\n

During the day, once the temperature gets too hot, they will retreat to a hide. Also, this is to prevent them from falling prey to birds and other predators.<\/p>\n

At night, they will spend their time sleeping in a hide. This is for protection from predators.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the materials used should be something that they are accustomed to and makes them feel comfortable.<\/p>\n

For hides, some manufacturers use wood that is either real or faux. For bearded dragons, it’s best to choose real wood that mimics their natural habitat.<\/p>\n

Other materials used can be plastic and rocks.<\/p>\n

Resistance to Mold<\/h3>\n

Most species of bearded dragons are from the woodlands and deserts. It’s usually not high humidity, but at times it can be. This is usually during the rainy season.<\/p>\n

In captivity, while they may never see any rain or a large amount of water pouring on them, the hide used should be resistant to mold.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the bearded dragon may spill water onto the hide or they could urinate on it.<\/p>\n

When this happens, it’s a great breeding ground for mold to form. Mold tends to grow and spread rapidly in hides that have a lot of crevices in them.<\/p>\n

Over time, as the mold gets larger and spreads, your bearded dragon may get sick from this.<\/p>\n

Therefore, choose a hide that’s resistant to mold to prevent your bearded dragons from getting ill.<\/p>\n

Selecting the Right Location for a Hide Box<\/h2>\n

The location of the hide box is important for bearded dragons. If the enclosure has a lot of room, it’s a good idea to place more than one hide box in there. By doing so, you’ll be giving your bearded dragon more choices to choose from where they feel most comfortable.<\/p>\n

Try to place the hide box far from their water dish and other water sources. This is to prevent the build-up of humidity in the hide. While the enclosure seems to be low in humidity, the inside of the hide may not. High humidity could also cause bacteria and mold to grow inside the hide.<\/p>\n

Depending on where the enclosure is located, you’ll want to keep their hide box at the back of the enclosure. This is to minimize any commotion that could disturb your bearded dragon while they are resting. If they are trying to rest and they keep waking up due to the commotion, they could get stressed.<\/p>\n

After placing the hide box, watch carefully how your bearded dragon reacts to it. Each beardie has its own personality. If they don’t seem to be happy and not hiding in the hide box often, try moving to a couple of different locations.<\/p>\n

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Top 3 Hides For Bearded Dragons<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many hides you can choose from, but after hours of researching, we’ve only chosen a few that we recommend.<\/p>\n

We’ve decided to not list the pricing of the items as they tend to change often. Therefore, you can click on the link to check the current price.<\/p>\n

Here is our list of the 3 hides for your pet bearded dragons that we recommend.<\/p>\n

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1. Fluker\u2019s Small Critter Cavern<\/h3>\n

<\/a>This is a hide made from Fluker. This hide is safe for all species of bearded dragons and contains no chemicals. It’s all-natural wood.<\/p>\n

Key Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n