Acrylic tanks..ANY INFO!!!

I am going to get a Bearded Dragon (someday). I have a friend who offered to build me an acrylic tank 42x22x20 for 100 bucks. (I was truly excited!)
Then I went to my local pet shop to look at other supplies I will need. They told me I couldn't keep my Dragon in an acrylic tank or it would kill him.

I have been looking at some of the more pricey enclosures and they have acrylic fronts

http://www.cagesbydesign.com/t-hybridreptile.aspx

does any one know anything about using acrylic?
Please Help!!

A Bearded Dragon would destroy acrylic with it's claws, it scratches easily. I'm not sure why the pet store told you it would kill them (that's absurd), but you shiny new acrylic will be scratched up within a few weeks. Glass is a better option for a Bearded Dragon display.

if the tank is fish safe, it won't hurt your lizard.

But i agree, it won't take long for a bearded to scratch the tank up.

Personally, unless you have a heated room...I would look towards melamine cages over aquariums for beardeds. We liek keeping ours in front opening cages.

As long as it wont hurt him I'm good with the scratches for now...maybe he will be one that won't scratch his tank? (lol) The melamine cages that I have seen are around $400-$500. They have a UVB light strip and 3 vent holes with a solid top. Where do you put the heat lamps? Won't it build up to much heat?
I'm a Beardie rookie so I'll take any info

I'm currently keeping the beardie I am fostering in a 100 gallon acrylic tank, no issues and she's been in it for over a year. Mine was used and already scratched up. I'll see if I can get a photo tonight to show you the lighting set up.

Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I'm currently keeping the beardie I am fostering in a 100 gallon acrylic tank, no issues and she's been in it for over a year. Mine was used and already scratched up. I'll see if I can get a photo tonight to show you the lighting set up.

Thanks! I'll check back later

here you go, I covered one of the top openings with a piece of plexi, the other top opening has the lights. One is a 25watt blue colored bulb that I can turn on as needed any time of the day/night (or leave on 24hrs) and the other is a heat bulb, I cannot remember what wattage, I got it at home depot a long time ago. That one and the 24" UVB reptisun are on timers for light cycle. I also keep min. ambient room temp of 75 degrees.

It's not an ideal set up in the tank, but works for now until I can find her a home. (the tank is a lot more scratched up than it shows, but most were there before I got it)


better shot of the UVB:


I did drill two holes in the top in order to attach the UVB fixture


hope that helps

Thanks! Yes, that does help a lot.
I plan on using a 36'' UVB.
I was wondering about using an under tank heater with the acrylic. Do I need to?

Originally Posted by LizMartell

I was wondering about using an under tank heater with the acrylic. Do I need to?

I did try a heat pad at first but the base of the aquarium is so thick not much heat would transfer through, so I don't think it would be that useful.

I have acrylic fronts on all my beardie cages. They do scratch them, but they are not that bad. You can still see through them very well. The glass just has a hazzy i guess you can say, look to it. Althought when they do "glass surf" or scratch the glass, its like nails on a chalk board