Heat Rock?

Why is it harmfull to use a heat rock? What about one with some kind of a temp control

Welcome to the forum :)

Even with a thermostat, heat rocks are notorious for getting hot spots that will burn your snake.

I don't consider them safe and will never recommend them.

The only thing i would ever use a heat rock for is to heat up some soup.
They dont hold a constant temp and will end up Burning your Reptiles.
Though i have never tried one with a temp controll.
I dont own a heat rock so i cant test it. I suppose with the propper temp controll it would work. Heck the Zoo mend heating pads are the same way but with temp controlls they work great.

the bp would lay on it and burn itself. i dont recomend them at all. i have heard horrible stories of people putting them in their tank as their basking spot. you do not want a heat rock at all.

Why have one in the first place, to be honest? You can decorate your enclosures with so many awesome things that you don't need to risk a heat rock at all?

I've head two things as to why not to use heat rocks.
1. they do not have thermostat controls, and it would be near impossible to use a typical thermostat on one, as the probe would not stay on the surface very easily.
2. they make a concentrated hot spot, instead of a large hot area. Then the animal has to squish themselves onto it, but they never warm their entire body up, so they stay on it, overheating one small area(usually the belly) and thus burning themselves.
Overall, cut the cord off and use it for a doorstop.

Best thing you can do with a heat rock is to cut the cord off of it and throw it at a car driving by your house too fast.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slim

Best thing you can do with a heat rock is to cut the cord off of it and throw it at a car driving by your house too fast.

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Dang it, I don't have any heat rocks laying around! Otherwise.. heh.. Or my upstairs neighbors would get it..