Is heat pad instead of lights acceptable?

[Belleandherdragon]

Now the weather is changing and the house is much warmer during the day, especially after noon. My bearded dragon lives in my room upstairs and my parents say that I shouldn't turn my beardie's lights on because it makes the upstairs too hot. It gets 85 up there in the evening but I'm worried my dragon won't be able to bask without her lights. I have a heat pad for her I could use instead along with a uvb, but is that okay? Will the pad heat the 40 gallon tank enough?

 

[VenusAndSaturn]

The heat mat will not work at all... maybe go with a lower wattage bulb so it doesn't get too hot.
Beardies need a bright bulb to bask with, something like a heat mat will not work as they can't really detect belly heat... so if that heat mat gets too hot you risk burns. And trust me even the smallest heat mats can get over 110.

 

[NuJohn321]

I'm no expert but I don't believe that it can be used as a primary heat source should even say that on the package or on itself. Another thing ive read is that a beardie has a very delicate belly and it could burn him/her. And along with that I've read that their third "eye" helps them with detecting if they're too hot and stuff like that. With heat underneath he couldn't tell and it could cause damage. So I think you need the light. I know it's hard I have a snake and beardie both lights on and I live in Florida it gets hot during the day, I just got used to having a fan on haha. Now i hope my research is correct, a more experienced reptile owner will clarify I'm sure.