It's cool. I had a had hides in there for three weeks and he never used them. He just laid around them. No heat rock. It's a regular slate rock. And the cool sides light doesn't run during the day. it's gets swapped at night with the day light. Temps run about 90-92 hot side. 82-84 cool side. I am having a bit of a prob keeping the humidity up. Fort Walton Beach, FL.