Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have read that many people do not use heating pads because dragons do not need heat on their stomach. However, I read the following on the kingsnake.com care sheet:

"Under tank heating can be used for night time use, supplied by a heating pad or tape."

If you guys don't you use heating pads, what do you use for nighttime heat? I don't own a beardie yet but hope to soon and I want to learn all I can about them.

Also, I have some extra aquarium gravel. I read in the Kingsnake.com care sheet "Good substrates are newspaper, sand, pea rock or aquarium gravel." However, I have read that many on this forum only recommend play sand. Why is this? Is gravel not a good idea?

I appreciate everyone's advice. I know there are probably many different opinions on these matters, I'd just like to learn as much as I can!

Jeeeez!! I guess i've never read the KS care sheet. I'm sure the gravel info came from an older Bearded Dragon manual. The reason people don't use pebbles, gravel, small rocks and bark substrates is because if they eat it, it will cause impaction, and they do eat it. Many of the substrates sold in pet stores claim to be completely digestable, but they certainly aren't and have caused many beardies problems, even death.
I would think the wheat/oat bran would the same as other brans. I didn't care for it because the furniture slid all over and when my beardies went poo, it seemed to stick to their vent and become dried on. Many people on this forum swear by brans, I just didn't care for it.
I'm back to using washed play sand, though I don't feed my beardies on it to prevent them from ingesting it.
TheClassyLizard

I forgot the heat question..
Beardies don't require night time heat unless the temp drops below 60 degrees. I think they rather enjoy the coolness.

Large gravel would be fine though it could be rough on the dragon's belly and feet. I would recommend just using rocks, large flat ones work good too. Pretty much anything that is smaller than the space between the beardie's eye could accidently get swollowed. Those flat polished stones you get in decorating stores..the larger ones probably be nice to add to the tank, easy to clean and add to the aesthetics of his home.