Hot rocks are simply not an appropriate way to provide heat for reptiles. They require the animal to sit on the rock to warm up, and they do not heat the air in the cage itself. This can lead to health problems (breathing cold air, steep and frequent body temperature changes), and certainly inteferes with the reptile's normal behavior.



In addition, hot rock safety is questionable. Even the newer type, touted to be safer, may fail unexpectedly at any time, and are particularly prone to do so after a few years of use. If the rock simply stopped working, it would not be so bad--instead, they sometimes overheat, which can burn or kill a reptile--reptiles don't sense heat with their belly very well, and may not move until it's too late. This has killed many reptiles in the past. The rocks may also be a fire hazard, and the company itself recommends that they not be used in dampness, or with any reptile that can cover most or all of the rock. Unfortunately, these directions aren't always on the package--the package may even depict reptile species that the rocks are allegedly not intended for.



Hot rocks are cheap...which means that uninformed buyers are likely to pick them up in favor of other more appropriate heating sources. An overhead heat lamp or an undertank heater with a rheostat are appropriate ways to heat a reptile cage and keep the animals safe and healthy. Why not offer the correct heating method to pet store shoppers, and forgo the dangerous, cheap method? The pet store makes more money selling people the RIGHT equipment. They aren't going to go somewhere else to buy a hot rock--particularly if you post an explanation as to why you don't carry hot rocks.

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