Hot rocks.

Hi,

From what I remember the problem with hot rocks was not that they couldn't be controled but that, even when controled, they were prone to developing hot spots that reached too high a temp.

But my memory is much like the marsh butterfly - all brightly coloured, flits prettily hither and thither but is, sadly, almost totally extinct. :oops:


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anthonym

Heat rocks, like many things in this hobby, seem to be surrounded by unfounded claims. Everyone says they are dangerous, but yet I dont know anyone who has ever actually used them and had a problem. I know Al Coritz has been using them with a lot of his hots for years. Where does everyone get this information that they are dangerous from? (Besides just from someone else telling them they are dangerous)

@ice#1: what thermostats are you using that DONT have a remote sensor/probe?...

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They are just experts, what would they know ;)

http://www.anapsid.org/hotrock.html



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From what I understand, hot rocks are bad for beardies because bearded dragons can't sense heat on their bellies and will just sit there and let their bellies burn. They like to bask under lights so they can spread out and flatten to absorb the UV rays.

I have a friend who used to have a ball python who if you moved her coils around in a certain way you could see what type of hot rock used to be in it's cage because it was branded into her belly. I've been helping out with my herp societies adoption program for many years and I've seen a number of snakes with bad burns due to hot rocks. They do develop hot spots and it is hard to regulate temperatures with them, there may be some safe ways to use hot rocks, but why chance it when there are so many other ways to heat your reptiles that have been proven safe?

I have a friend who used to have a ball python who if you moved her coils around in a certain way you could see what type of hot rock used to be in it's cage because it was branded into her belly. I've been helping out with my herp societies adoption program for many years and I've seen a number of snakes with bad burns due to hot rocks. They do develop hot spots and it is hard to regulate temperatures with them, there may be some safe ways to use hot rocks, but why chance it when there are so many other ways to heat your reptiles that have been proven safe?