Heat rocks

[bensnacks]

I know there must be a topic posted on here somewhere about these,
tried numerous searches and coming up w/ squat. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
Could someone please post a link or otherwise give me the low down on
how , why ,where & when these can give burns??
[addsig]

[Boa_Breeder]

well i know this info is on the site somewhere... but here it is, heat rocks cause burns because you cant regulate the temps of it and when your snake lays on it for a period of time it causes the burns... that is why ppl here on RTB.net so heat rocks are a NO NO.. either go with a heat bulb from the top, or what i and a lot of others use is a normal human heating pad.. If you have the heating pad inside the tank set it on low or medium.. If its under your tank set it on high... Ive been using heating pads for a long time now and never had any problems with them..a word of advise tho, if ya have them inside the tank make sure you have more than 1 cover for it, that way you always have a clean one when its cage cleaning time.. pillow cases work well for this, just bunch it up at the cord and put a tie strap on it so the snake cant crawl inside the cover and lay on the bare heating pad... hope this helps ya out

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[eddie]

Heat rocks develop breaks in the coils that cause hot spots that burn animals.
This can happen quickly or over a period of time.
And they can also burn animals while being in good condition.

They are bad.
Don't use.
Unless ya make paperweights with them.
[addsig]

[morti]

The best hot-rock is one that has had it's cord cut off. They make good sheding stones and great cage decorations!

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
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[telefrag]

Some of the early hot rocks explicitly state not to let the animals come into direct contact, that they are best used buried under substrate,
but no one ever paid any attention to the "recommended" useage, so thermal burns abound from hot rocks.
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[morti]

It's kindof funny that they would reccomend that the animal not come in direct contact with the rock when the packaging has a pic of an iguanna sitting directly on a hotrock.

*Grumble, moan, complain*

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
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[RevMojo]

Devil's advocate time: What about the newer ones with the rheostat so that you can control the temp? And has anybody e-mailed any of the manufacturers for their opinion or response regarding this?

I know how we all feel about the subject, but I'd be very interested in hearing what the manufacturers have to say...
[addsig]

[morti]

Rev, the new ones still have the problem where the coil can go flakey and make a hotspot. It is all in how they were designed. I have heard of people calling and e-mailing zoo-med who never has any comment on the product. They just keep on making them because people just keep on buying them.
[addsig]

[bensnacks]

So basically it's a design fault internally plus
the fact they weren't fitted w/ a rheostat or thermostat
to safely control temp.

Thanks guys I don't use but I know some who do and who are planning to.
Armed with this I may be able to stop em'!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
[addsig]