Please, Please, Please toss your heat rock!
A heat rock is a ceramic (usually) rock shape with an electric heating coil in the middle. Many people use them as a heat source for their reptiles (although they are falling out of fashion). The problem with heat rocks is they don't have any regulator for the amount of heat they produce. As they age, the heating coil breaks down and begins to produce more and more heat. Also many reptiles regulate their body temp. by basking in the sun, so they may not have sensitive heat sensation on their ventrum (belly, etc) and may sit too long on the rock causing severe burns. It is much cheaper in the long run to be conscious of the ecology of the herp you are keeping and try to tailor your environment accordingly. Some safer alternatives to heat rocks are under-tank heat pads (good for nocturnal rocky desert dwelling lizards like leopard geckos) and basking bulbs. Be sure to measure the temp. at the level your animal will be utilizing the basking area to get an accurate picture of the temp. Keep basking lamps away from any place your animal could contact it or surfaces that may be touching it. If you are careful then your pet will have the appropriate basking area without danger of burns.
picture courtesy of http://www.iguanaden.org/health/gallery/images/hotrockburn.jpg
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