Bearded Dragons are from hot, dry areas in Australia and spend a lot of time in the tropical sun.
Because of this, they need basking temperatures of over 100 degrees and also require a high level of UVB lighting, in order to produce Vitamin D, needed to metabolize calcium.
They require low humidity and no water bowl is necessary for drinking, although they will want to bath once in a while.
Screen enclosures will not allow you to keep the temps up where they should, and glass will also be difficult to hold enough heat, due to its very low R-value. Screen is also very abrasive and the animals will damage themselves seeking an escape route and/or exploring. Neither of these materials as a main component is going to help your pet be healthy and successful.
The better enclosure will be a box made mostly of plywood. Solid bottom, back and sides. Sliding glass doors on the front (buy a track at the lumber store/glass at the hardware store. Make sure the edges are polished as to not be sharp. A solid top with cut-out for lighting will be fine, and Bearded Dragons don;t jump well, so upward escape is not usually a problem if the enclosure is deep enough for proper lighting/eat distribution anyway.
Aquariums are not ideal, due to the top entry and the ground-dwelling lizard perceiving any action from above as danger. When the keeper comes in from above, it spooks the animal and makes it harder to tame. If an aquarium is used, it is recommended to insulate the back and sides, and to partially cover the top to try to hold heat in.
The lizard will need a 'hot spot', a rock with a floodlight hanging over it, in order to bask and bring his internal temperatures up. This hot spot should be at one end, so the lizard can move away from the heat and self-regulate his temperatures. A small T-5 HO fluorescent fixture with a *good quality* UVB bulb should be located over his basking spot, and close enough to allow him to absorb enough radiation to produce his VitD.
Without sufficient heat, the Bearded dragon cannot digest food properly, will not thrive and will die before his time.
Without sufficient calcium supplement and abundant UVB lighting, the Bearded Dragon will suffer "MBD" (metabolic bone disease) due to lack of calcium uptake and become both deformed and in pain, often becoming paralyzed.
With good care and diet, Bearded Dragons can be happy, healthy and (relatively) active.
There are quite a few "care sheets" out for bearded dragons, because they are such popular pets:
https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/bearded-dragon-care-sheet/https://reptile.guide/bearded-dragon-care-guide/This is a decent site for more information:
https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=65I am experienced in successfully keeping bearded dragons and monitor lizards. Feel free to message me with any questions.
