Brooke wote:



>>Hi there,



Hi, Brooke!



>>I'm currently working in a pet store which carries a variety of heat rocks - none of which have any kind of elaborate temp control.



Ah, a brave soul. A pet store employee who comes online and

indentifies themselves as such. Really, there are some pet

store employees who know a good amount about reps. Its just

there are clearly a number who do not. Nice to have you here,

Brooke. You sound like a person who cares about the work you

do as well as for the animals. Thank you.



>>I personally worry, having heard about snakes and lizards being horribly burned from these devices. The opinion of one person, however, is not enough to sway any of the corporate folk that we shouldn't carry them. Maybe I'm over-reacting anyway.. that's why I'd like to hear from as many of you as possible.



I'm relatively new to keeping reptiles, but I've heard and

read a number of times from different people with experience

caring for reptiles in captivity, all of whom did NOT know

each other, that "Heat rocks" are a definite BAD thing for

reptiles in captivity. I think you already know that, but it's

very smart of you to ask around to see what, if anything,

anyone might have to say who thinks they are good for reptiles

in captivity.



I've always used Under tank heaters for my reptiles at home and I recommend them to customers who come in and need to purchase heaters. I'm not there all of the time however, and the other associates at the store will recommend the rocks to anyone regardless of the type of pet they own, the size of the tank or the existing heat source.



Again, I agree with you. I gather pet stores don't provide

very much in the way of training their on the floor people

about one of the (main) product products they sell, living,

breathing reptiles.

The thing I also think about "Heat rocks" aside from the

horror stories I've heard about them burning the animals is

that they are not going to heat much of an area in the tank

that will be warm enough for a reptile who is wanting to warm

itself up. If it wants to warm itself up it's going to be

restricted to sitting on or very near that "Heat rock". Now

with an "Under the tank heater" one could provide a wider

area in the tank that will be warmer and the animal will

therefore have a much wider area to select where it wants

to get warm in the tank.

Depending on the heating requirements of the reptile in

question one could heat the entire bottom of the tank or

maybe just a section of it.

With a "Heat rock" for the animal it must be like it is for

us when we are out in the middle of the water on a small

rowboat. We're okay as long as we stay inside the little

rowboat, but if we leave the little rowboat when we're in

it out in the middle of the water.. well we get wet. See my

point?



>>I'd really like to know A) that they are safe after all and I'm just being silly or B) that nobody thinks they're a good idea and I can print your responses, hand them to the people in corporate and try to save some animals from a fate worse than death.



I don't think they are intenionally made to be unsafe, but

there are quite a few people, myself included, who when we

first start out don't know a whole lot and are likely to

make a "few mistakes". And of course sometimes (how many I

don't honestly know) newbies may be led to believe that a

"Heat rock" is good for their reptile when in fact their

particular species of reptile doesn't get its warmth from

the earth's surface, but from above, the sun (i.e. "basking".

I don't know about changing anyone in corporate. I think

you're not likely to get very far (depending on your employer)

and you may just bring heat down on yourself and then where

will the reptiles being sold to newbies in the place where

you work be? I *think* the best you can try to do is maybe

what you're doing right now. Sharing and participating with

people online on how to care for reptiles in captivity. Maybe

you could use your computer to write up some Care Sheets on

various reptiles that they sell where you work and if your

employer allows it they could be given to anyone who comes

in considering buying a reptile or to anyone who comes in

and buys one. Careful though, Brooke. Don't openly criticize

any of the products they sell where you work ("Heat rocks,

etc...). Simply offer the reader a carefully worded choice

on how they would want to provide heat for their reptile and

then let them decide. Well, once again I've written off a

much too-long reply. That's me. Anyway, I hope I've at least

given you some things to help you better think it all out.

Peace.

Lizard~King

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