Heat Rock Marketing Rant

Now, I know most of us here know that heat rocks are probably one on the worst things for snakes, or at least from what ive heard, and can cause severe burns. I was walking down a few of the aisles at work today and noticed this one, and decided to give it a read.

If you read the left side, the first thing it tells you that its good for is a multitude of snake species, including pythons and boas. I HATE how these are marketed this way. My boss came over and knew what i was looking at, and thank god no one has actually bought one of them in a long time. I dont understand how so many of these are still on the market even after having caused to much damage to pets in the past.

Of course, this very day, someone asks me about them not long after me and the boss had talked, im guessing he had overheard us. He was actually about to buy it for his young BP, and I quickly turned him to a UTH and Thermostat for it.

Dont know why I felt the need to rant about this, but these things are starting to really get on my nerves now that I work with pets for a living, I suppose.
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I work a big box pet store and never recommend them.


It's frustrating for sure. It's like how I need to explain that the boxes for fish tanks will ALWAYS display more fish than you can safely keep in the tank.

Or have to have a bit of a speech on the ups and downs of sand in certain lizard enclosures

My very first Craigslist ball python came with one. That is all she had for heat, just one unregulated heat rock. No UTH, no thermostat, no lamp, just a heat rock that plugged into the wall!

She was also drastically underfed and dehydrated. In my care, she went from 2 feet long to 4 feet long in ONE YEAR! I kid you not, she must have been much older than I thought and once she got some proper food and husbandry she grew like a weed on fertilizer.

Needless to say I threw the heatrock in the garbage after doing some research online about proper husbandry.

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Originally Posted by Armiyana

I work a big box pet store and never recommend them.


It's frustrating for sure. It's like how I need to explain that the boxes for fish tanks will ALWAYS display more fish than you can safely keep in the tank.

Or have to have a bit of a speech on the ups and downs of sand in certain lizard enclosures

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Fish can be the worst, because people always think they can be thrown in any size tank. Someone today was trying to buy a bowl with a comet goldfish (which, you know, get up to 12-18in easily).

Also had a guy who wanted to put an Oscar in a 10 gal. Needless to say neither left with the fish they originally wanted, though they happily listened to the advice given.

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The little guy I rescued had only one of those for his hot spot. I’m beginning to believe he has neurological damage from it. :( So stupid


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I'm not familiar with legal processes. But if I purchased one unknowingly and caused severe burns to my python can't I file a law suit? It cleary states they are good for pythons in which they aren't. They should have hundreds of open law suits threatening the companies existence. Am I wrong?

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I hate heat rocks! And my team knows no heat rocks as well lol. No one sells heat rocks or those stupid stick on gauges lol. We just say no.

and don't even get me started on the damn fish....... I actually have a sign on my goldfish tank stating they have specific requirements that need to be met before selling. I say no everyday to fish people. Every day!

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

I hate heat rocks! And my team knows no heat rocks as well lol. No one sells heat rocks or those stupid stick on gauges lol. We just say no.

and don't even get me started on the damn fish....... I actually have a sign on my goldfish tank stating they have specific requirements that need to be met before selling. I say no everyday to fish people. Every day!

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I do as well. I hate how people never even try to read the tags. Just had someone ask me for a baby angelfish to be put in a bowl. I dont even want to list the amount of things wrong in that one sentence.

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Originally Posted by Slicercrush

I do as well. I hate how people never even try to read the tags. Just had someone ask me for a baby angelfish to be put in a bowl. I dont even want to list the amount of things wrong in that one sentence.

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Oh I get it!

Me:what are we looking at getting today?
customer: a goldfish for my kid
me: great, what is your set up? (Notice I didn't say tank size)
customer: we have a (insert bowl, 5.5, 10 gal).
me: oh Im sorry, goldfish have specific requirements. Your tank is just to small to handle all the waste they produce and they need colder water and more oxygen than other fish. But with the size you have a betta is your best bet because of XYZ.
customer: but we want a goldfish and we had them before Ina bowl and they lived for two years!
me: goldfish can live up to 30 years and can get the size of koi. So two years is 1/15th their life span. It couldn't grow and got sick. We dont sell goldfish in bowls for this reason. Can I interest you in a betta?

i hate goldfish people more than anything! Hate! I'm not afraid to say no lol!

It’s not a whole lot different than selling a UTH without a thermostat. I saw a so called “snake habitat” at the pet store where I buy my mice (it’s the same kit they probably sell at pet stores everywhere made by a big name company). I looked at it’s contents and it had a UTH but no thermostat or way to control the heat they put out. And those things get pretty hot without a thermostat. I know people SHOULD do a lot of research before buying a live animal, but I’m guessing a lot don’t.

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Originally Posted by bhsurf4

It’s not a whole lot different than selling a UTH without a thermostat. I saw a so called “snake habitat” at the pet store where I buy my mice (it’s the same kit they probably sell at pet stores everywhere made by a big name company). I looked at it’s contents and it had a UTH but no thermostat or way to control the heat they put out. And those things get pretty hot without a thermostat. I know people SHOULD do a lot of research before buying a live animal, but I’m guessing a lot don’t.

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I actually have people get out their phones go to Amazon and get a thermostat before I sell an animal lol. I'm like, you're not taking one of my animals home without it. This is not an option! And I also never sell an animal the same day they get the enclosure. I'm such a witch.....

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

I actually have people get out their phones go to Amazon and get a thermostat before I sell an animal lol. I'm like, you're not taking one of my animals home without it. This is not an option! And I also never sell an animal the same day they get the enclosure. I'm such a witch.....

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Dont think witches make sure animals get proper homes!

Honestly, I've loved the job so far. As bad as a rep as our places get (and i dont blame them, have you seen the news on mine recently with the dogs?), i can at least be happy in knowing i can help avoid the disasters, and help educate people the best I can on what they can/cannot care for.

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Originally Posted by Knowell

I'm not familiar with legal processes. But if I purchased one unknowingly and caused severe burns to my python can't I file a law suit? It cleary states they are good for pythons in which they aren't. They should have hundreds of open law suits threatening the companies existence. Am I wrong?

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Have you ever tried calling the company (at the "top") & hinting they might get sued, class-action style? I'm no lawyer, but I'm guessing that the reason this hasn't
happened is there is just too much ignorance & apathy about snakes & keeping them. I'd always start with TRYING to get them to do the right thing. Very interesting
question, I might add. Technically the heat IS good for pythons, but there should ALSO be the mention of the safety aspect (needing a thermostat or other control).
It's shockingly stupid of them not to say so on the package as 'directions for use'!

I hope you pursue this & do keep us posted? It might also help if a BUNCH of us called their attention to this...big companies tend to blow off the solo calls, but if they
realize there is a whole forum full of people behind this and that we talk to keepers everywhere, it just might get their attention. Especially if we contact other forums
to get involved too & they keep hearing from more people. It pays to "nag" sometimes. ;)

It would be the same for any heat sources though and not just a heat rock. An uth can burn just as much as a rock or people that put light "inside" a cage. (I still don't understand that one). All heat source packaging should include directions about a thermostat. All of them, including bulbs and domes!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Have you ever tried calling the company (at the "top") & hinting they might get sued, class-action style? I'm no lawyer, but I'm guessing that the reason this hasn't
happened is there is just too much ignorance & apathy about snakes & keeping them. I'd always start with TRYING to get them to do the right thing. Very interesting
question, I might add. Technically the heat IS good for pythons, but there should ALSO be the mention of the safety aspect (needing a thermostat or other control).
It's shockingly stupid of them not to say so on the package as 'directions for use'!

I hope you pursue this & do keep us posted? It might also help if a BUNCH of us called their attention to this...big companies tend to blow off the solo calls, but if they
realize there is a whole forum full of people behind this and that we talk to keepers everywhere, it just might get their attention. Especially if we contact other forums
to get involved too & they keep hearing from more people. It pays to "nag" sometimes. ;)

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It does have a "warning" in small letters in the red section on the bottom left about how it shouldnt be used as a main heat source, which is probably how they get around that.

Doesnt make it any more useable, especially without a thermostat.

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So are these okay to use if controlled by a thermostat? I’ve never considered it and just completely wrote them off.


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Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

So are these okay to use if controlled by a thermostat? I’ve never considered it and just completely wrote them off.


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Dont recommend it by any means, theres still plenty wrong with them.

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Originally Posted by Slicercrush

Dont recommend it by any means, theres still plenty wrong with them.

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I didn’t think so. My rescued guy had one (with electrical tape on the cord even) and I immediately threw it away.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by ErostheSnake

So are these okay to use if controlled by a thermostat? I’ve never considered it and just completely wrote them off.


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They don't heat evenly...they over-heat in the middle, so even if "controlled" they wouldn't be trustworthy, IMO.

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Originally Posted by Slicercrush

It does have a "warning" in small letters in the red section on the bottom left about how it shouldnt be used as a main heat source, which is probably how they get around that.

Doesnt make it any more useable, especially without a thermostat.

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I don't see how that warning helps the issue one bit. :confusd:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

They don't heat evenly...they over-heat in the middle, so even if "controlled" they wouldn't be trustworthy, IMO.

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I don't see how that warning helps the issue one bit. :confusd:

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I meant it more as that in a legal sense,they could use that to back their continued selling of the product. "The warning is there, people should learn to read it." Doesnt make it right by any means, but could be a foothold if they were to be sued.

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Just an idea...we bring the issue to the attention of the BOI (board of inquiry). I'm pretty sure they contact the company and let them defend themselves while also giving all of us an opportunity to state our issues.

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Originally Posted by Knowell

Just an idea... bring issue was brought to the attention of the BOI (board of inquiry). I'm pretty sure they contact the company and let them defend themselves while also giving all of us an opportunity to state our issues.

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Do I hear a forum-wide protest brewing?

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Originally Posted by Slicercrush

Do I hear a forum-wide protest brewing?

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It's certainly an issue worth fighting.

I would imagine zoomed is well aware of issues, I thought they had changed something about the hot rocks 15 years ago or so? To try to make them safer? I don't recall exactly.
https://zoomed.com/repticare-rock-heater/

Only time I used one was when it came with my iguana, I cut the cord off and placed it under the basking bulb as it did hold the heat really well when it was warmed up.
I do wish they would simply stop selling them though and marketing them as a good source of belly heat for digestion.

As for how the BOI works, it's a peer review system. The members of the BOI can contact whoever they see fit but the actual admin and staff (I'm a mod over there) do not take action on anything ourselves. just FYI since it was brought up that we would contact the company on poster's behalfs, that doesn't happen.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I would imagine zoomed is well aware of issues, I thought they had changed something about the hot rocks 15 years ago or so? To try to make them safer? I don't recall exactly.
https://zoomed.com/repticare-rock-heater/

Only time I used one was when it came with my iguana, I cut the cord off and placed it under the basking bulb as it did hold the heat really well when it was warmed up.
I do wish they would simply stop selling them though and marketing them as a good source of belly heat for digestion.

As for how the BOI works, it's a peer review system. The members of the BOI can contact whoever they see fit but the actual admin and staff (I'm a mod over there) do not take action on anything ourselves. just FYI since it was brought up that we would contact the company on poster's behalfs, that doesn't happen.

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I wasn't sure exactly how the BOI worked. I'm not looking for war just figured it was time to actually do something about this.

On the link you posted it says "Hot spots are not a problem with a completely encapsulated full coverage nichrome heating element that distributes heat evenly." If this isn't a problem then why are we still dicussing this. Do snakes still get burned or has there not been a report in some time?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slicercrush

I meant it more as that in a legal sense,they could use that to back their continued selling of the product. "The warning is there, people should learn to read it." Doesnt make it right by any means, but could be a foothold if they were to be sued.

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But the "warning" doesn't address the actual danger from them...:confusd: it's vague & not helpful (going by what the package supposedly says, I'm not seeing one to know).