Heat rock?

[Ingrid]

As an alternative to using lights etc.. how does a heatrock rate for a Darwin Python and MD? The advertising says they provide warmth on top for basking and radiated heat inside the hide. Would this be ok as the only heat source? Connected to a thermostat etc.. just out of curiosity?

 

[ZenPython]

I use them for some of my snakes and they're fine, but I'm in Brisbane so it doesn't get that cold. I do have a low wattage light in most of my tanks though just if it is a particularly cold day I can turn that on. The ones I use have an in-built thermostat. I know a lot of people don't like the heat rocks as they have caused burns to snakes etc, but any thermostat can fail, you just have to make sure you have a thermometer on it and keep an eye on that. They usually sit around early thirties temp wise.

 

[adfel]

Umm I would probably just use a heat mat... you can get them with a built in thermo and then you just put a ceramic floor tile over the top.... Holds the heat really well... I use this for both my Darwin and MD and have never had any problems with it... I find it holds the heat better. I have a heat rock which I was using at one stage and found that its thermostat didn't work quite so well and also the light on the back didn't work so I never knew if it was heating or not..

 

[J-A-X]

there are a lot of people that have had major issues with heat rocks with pythons, yet a lot of us successfully use heat mats/cords, if the heating element in the 'rock' is too close to the surface then you may get minor burns on the underbelly. with heat mats/cords they usually have substrate or even a ceramic tile or timber on top to help 'soften' the direct heat.

I wouldn't use a heat rock, for pythons or lizards, i've read too many horror stories, but that just my opinion.

 

[Ingrid]

Hmm.. ok, sounds a bit too risky I suppose. I have a heat mat, it's way too big for the enclosure I have, so I'll have to get a new one. So heat mat, ceramic tile, then substrate (Breeder's Choice).. Too easy really..

 

[mrs_davo]

WE have NEVER had any problems using heat rocks at all.
The ones we buy have a built in thermostat and never heat up beyond 28-30 deg.....
Just because a few people out there have had the occasional problem/s with them - does not make them risky at all.. just my opinion

 

[J-A-X]

Hmm.. ok, sounds a bit too risky I suppose. I have a heat mat, it's way too big for the enclosure I have, so I'll have to get a new one. So heat mat, ceramic tile, then substrate (Breeder's Choice).. Too easy really..

i wouldn't recommend anything flammable in contact with the heat source, breeders choice is a paper based litter, be very aware of what comes into contact with it, if its a glass tank then you could risk cracking the glass, on chipboard you could have an ignition point there....

ian_davo says he uses the ones with built in thermostats, so maybe they have improved them ... could be worth a try and sounds a little less risky than heatmat and kitty litter.

 

[Ingrid]

Even if there's a tile between the heatmat and the substrate? Ehhh... it's too complicated now. I think I'll just stick with the set-up I already have lol..

 

[J-A-X]

you are going to find it almost impossible to keep the kitty litter from getting under the tile somewhere, thats where globes can win, they dont come into contact with anything flammable.

 

[cris]

I have never used commercial heat rocks, i know that many years ago(possibly still now too) there were some poor quality products that would burn reptiles(according to various sources). I think this has stuck in the minds of many experienced keepers so many assume all hot rocks will always be bad.

I have no idea if these ones you get these days are well designed, if they are well designed they are a good way of heating IMO.

If you say what the exact product is you could probably get more useful feedback.

 

[mrs_davo]

I have never used commercial heat rocks, i know that many years ago(possibly still now too) there were some poor quality products that would burn reptiles(according to various sources). I think this has stuck in the minds of many experienced keepers so many assume all hot rocks will always be bad.

I have no idea if these ones you get these days are well designed, if they are well designed they are a good way of heating IMO.

If you say what the exact product is you could probably get more useful feedback.

Yes cris you have pretty much covered it. This day & age the heat rocks avail on the market are much more supperior. So long as you buy the type with an inbiult thermostat.
I have used these things for basic heating of snakes for the last 6 years. The only problem I have had with is them over this time is that they may stop working in the way of heating up.
This just means throw away & get another one. I have never had one with inbiult thermastat heat too much & burn snake in this time.
I have heard of a case where a young female herper friend bought a new rock & she said that it actualy exploded when pluged in & heated up. But of course this was not a damaging explosion just rather a mess to clean up, & this product was most probably damaged in transport.

I should add though that should not necesarily be the the only heat source supply to your snake, Especialy in the cooler months of winter.

A lot does depend on the type of snake & where you live. But I continue to use heat rocks(with inbiult thermastat) for all my indoor snakes Which includes BHP's ,Coastal Carpets & Diamonds.

 

[ZenPython]

I've been using the Reptile One heat rocks with the inbuilt thermostats and have found them to be good. I've seen a couple of threads here recently about failed thermostats so I don't see that they can be any more dangerous than a lot of other ways of heating with a thermostat.

 

[Pythoninfinite]

MDs and Darwins are probably too big to take comfortable advantage of a heat rock. For largish pythons (or lizards for that matter) you need heat to be more widely dispersed so they can heat the whole body evenly. You risk local small area burns if you use small sized heat sources for large reptiles.

Jamie.

 

[JAS101]

i too have asked this question > http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/general-discussion-42/heat-rock-snakes-134445/

 

[Bez84]

I saw this same question asked years ago and my fav response was using a heat rock as the only heat source for a python would be the same as you lying buck naked in a blizzard clinging to a hot waterbottle lol.

 

[shn90]

i have a heat rock and it is great bu it is recommended on the box that it should not be used as the only heat source so maybe its best if you have a heat globe as well

 

[D3pro]

Reptile one 12 watt heatmat under the enclosure works 100%. No need for thermo cause temps don't go over 34.