Don't use heat rocks. Just don't!

This is Matilda. She is a three year old bumblebee. This picture was taken last night just after her prior owner left my house. The burn was caused by a heat rock last weekend.

Matilda is now at the vet getting treated, I took her in to SEAVS this morning.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...atildaburn.jpg

Why do they even sell those things anymore? Literally every one everywhere will tell you not to use a heat rock, I thought "don't use a heat rock" was pretty common knowledge at this point?

Oh gosh, the poor baby :(

Thank you for taking her in and getting her the help and care she so desperately needs.

I also cannot believe heat rocks are even sold anymore. Or, if sold, shouldn't they have a BIG red warning on them NOT to use them on snakes ? NOT to use them without thermostats?
How can those companies even live with themselves knowing about all the misery they cause, and they have GOT to know.

They probably have some tiny "small print" somewhere on the box or instruction, knowing no-one sees it or reads it. Sigh.

Not only are Heat Rocks a problem, but the fact every Tom, : Richard & Harry that end up impulse buying a snake without researching properly don't use a Thermostat. Even heat pads can burn. I don't think anyone reads anymore, even "ZooMed" and "All Living Things" UTH's & Heat Rocks directions state you always need to use a Tstat.
Poor thing [emoji35]


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Originally Posted by zina10

Oh gosh, the poor baby :(

Thank you for taking her in and getting her the help and care she so desperately needs.

I also cannot believe heat rocks are even sold anymore. Or, if sold, shouldn't they have a BIG red warning on them NOT to use them on snakes ? NOT to use them without thermostats?
How can those companies even live with themselves knowing about all the misery they cause, and they have GOT to know.

They probably have some tiny "small print" somewhere on the box or instruction, knowing no-one sees it or reads it. Sigh.

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You could paint the entire package and the rock neon green with "do not use with snakes" on every available surface and jackwagons would still put them in with snakes on full blast and no controller.

Good on you OP for taking that snake...poor thing has to be in pain...

Just like every other tool we use they have a place.
Problem is people dont research but they will spend all day on social media.......

At least the poor thing is at a vet getting treated, that burn looks terrible. When the local pet store shut down and sold off their stuff I was tempted to buy the heat rock just to toss it in the trash, where they should all go.

Oh poor thing :( I'm so glad you're getting her the help she needs, I'm sure she will thrive in your care.

on a side note, that's one nice looking bumblebee for being 3 years old!!

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Just like every other tool we use they have a place.
Problem is people dont research but they will spend all day on social media.......

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What do they have a use for? I have monitors and snakes and in both cases, heat rocks aren't recommended. I just looked up online if they were suggested for bearded dragons, it's the same as everything else. Look at Zoo Med's Q&A about them:

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Q: Why use Rock Heaters?
A: In nature the sun beats down on rocks and pavement (roads) which hold heat. Many species of reptiles will take advantage of this heat during the day or early evening to help "heat-up" their digestive tract and facilitate food digestion. The ReptiCare® Rock Heater replicates this "heated stone" feature found in nature and is very useful for reptiles that eat large meals (ie: mice and rats) like Pythons, Boas, Monitor Lizards, Tegus, etc.

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How about putting a basking lamp over a rock? You know, the artificial sun beating down on the rocks and warming them...

Honestly, I haven't found an actual use for them, other than to severely injure your animals... And honestly, while there is a market for it to be used by people who haven't really researched their animals, it seems like that's the whole market, which means the companies that make them are simply propogating abuse.

Update: the vet was worried that her wounds had turned septic since they were pretty angry looking, but after a few days of silvadene and debriding the burned areas he said it looks like she'll make a full recovery. I'll be picking her up at the end of the week and she'll be on injected antibiotics for a while.

You rock!!!


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Geez, how sad is this. That's got to be more than a full thickness burn injury. Septic, wow. Thanks for your swift intervention for emergency care.

How hot the rock had to be to cause this?

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Originally Posted by qwerty53

How hot the rock had to be to cause this?

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I don't know. Remember though that snakes lie on a heated surface and the temperature builds up slowly to where they get burned before they feel uncomfortable enough to move - if they move.

I'm going to pick her up tomorrow.

Damn.. heat rocks are horrible.

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So glad she'll be okay. Oh boy, I thought I was paranoid/compulsive about checking my girl's tub temperatures before I saw this picture...

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Update: little Matilda went septic and passed away last night. :(

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Update: little Matilda went septic and passed away last night. :(

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So sorry to hear; you did everything you could to save her.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Update: little Matilda went septic and passed away last night. :(

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Aw, jeeze the sucks ): At least you did what you could.

That's such a shame :( Thank you for doing everything you could.