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[herptrader]

I have a heat rock that I sort of inherited. I have never found a good use for it though I have considered mounting it on the wall of an eclosure so that it could not be easily coiled around. I think it is only 7 watts so unless it is used in a well insulated situation I cannot see it getting too hot.

There are plenty of stories out there of hot rocks burning herps but you often wonder if you are getting the whole story. I have seen pythons badly burnt because they coiled around a light globe so obviously things can go wrong. My hot rock came with a pair of pythons, was on all the time and was one of their main heat sources for 5 years before I got them.

There is the old anecdote of the frog in water which goes if you put a frog in cold water and heat it to boiling the frog will not get out and cook but if you toss a frog into hot water it will try and get out pronto.

There is probably a Phd in this subject for somebody which would help sort the rumour from fact.