Reptiles use conduction heating, or heat from another source like a hot rock, to help with regular body functions like food digestion and molting. The temperature for the reptile's warming area will depend on the reptile species. Most require temperatures in the upper 80 degree F range for their basking area of their cage. Make sure you know the requirements for your reptile.
Things You'll Need
- Rock
- Drill
- ¼-inch diamond drill bit
- Bowl
- Bleach
- Antibacterial dish soap
- Stiff brush
- Artificial greenery
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue stick
- UVB/A florescent light
Instructions
Choose a rock for the reptile hot rock. Sandstone or slate rocks work best because they tend to hold heat for a longer period. The rock should be large enough that the entire body of the reptile can fit on it. For larger reptiles, use a rock that will support the head and at least half of their body. Look for sandstone rocks in their natural environments, by water and in sandy desert areas, and slate rocks in the slate belt of Eastern Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and New York. You can also purchase these rocks at home improvement stores.
Clean the reptile hot rock by running them under warm water and gently rubbing any dirt or loose debris from the rock's surface. Visually examine the rock to make sure there are no sharp edges or areas that could cause harm to the reptile.
Drill a hole on the top of the reptile hot rock using a ¼-inch diamond drill bit. The hole should be on the top of the hot rock about ½ inch from the back edge. Run a continuous stream of cool water over the drill bit while drilling, the water lubricates the bit and keeps it cool. Pulse or press the drill bit against the stone and pull it away from the hole as you drill. Apply even, downward pressure with an even speed when you are drill the hole in the rock. Continue drilling until the hole is ½ inch deep, making sure not to drill completely through the rock.
Mix 1/8 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of warm water into a large bowl. Place your hot rock into the water to soak overnight. Remove the rock and rinse it in water.
Apply a small amount of antibacterial dish soap to a stiff brush (like a fingernail brush) and scrub the rock. To prevent fungus or bacteria from being introduced into the reptiles cage, scrub all surfaces of the rock. Rinse the rock with clean water to remove any soap residue. Allow it to dry completely.
Fill the drilled hole in the rock half full with hot glue. Add several pieces of artificial (plastic) greenery by gently pressing the stem of your greenery into the hole. Hold the artificial greenery in place until the glue dries; this should only take a few minutes.
Place the reptile hot rock into the sand base of the reptile cage. Position the rock so that it will not fall over onto your reptile.
Position the florescent light heat source above the reptile hot rock so that it can absorb the heat and warm your reptile. Look for the UVB/A light bulb label to know you are getting the right bulb for your reptile. UVB is critical for reptiles to form D3, which helps in the absorption of calcium. UVA affects the way things look to a reptile, helping it see as it would in the wild, with more vivid and bright colors. Florescent light bulbs that produce UVB also produce UVA.