Are you sure its even true then? I see this repeated a lot, and yes dragons can get burned from heat mats and heat mats can be unsafe but there isn't much evidence for that 'reason'. It seems a bit odd that animals from the desert where surface temps get really hot wouldn't be able to tell the rock they are sitting on would burn them....Gormagon":12lxtnfu said:I don't know why but for some reason beardies cannot sense heat on their bellies, so heat mat could burn them before they would move. They sense heat from overhead to regulate their body temperature.
Then why risk it, to many unknowns to take a chance on it for me, IMO! I would hate to think that I was responsible for causing my lil girl undue pain and stress, even more so, someone elses. So until it is proven to me that they are a healthy addition to my beardies needs, I will not use one or advise someone else to use one. This is my personal opinion and preference.Taterbug":33iz9vh6 said:Are you sure its even true then? I see this repeated a lot, and yes dragons can get burned from heat mats and heat mats can be unsafe but there isn't much evidence for that 'reason'. It seems a bit odd that animals from the desert where surface temps get really hot wouldn't be able to tell the rock they are sitting on would burn them....Gormagon":33iz9vh6 said:I don't know why but for some reason beardies cannot sense heat on their bellies, so heat mat could burn them before they would move. They sense heat from overhead to regulate their body temperature.
Heat mat/heat rocks are really bad at uniform heat though, and do not provide heat in a way that warms up the enclosures so a big basking animal can properly warm up. Instead they just warm up what they can touch, and the things very close to them. They are not inherently unsafe when used properly. They need to be attached to a thermostat that will control the max temperature they will reach to avoid becoming a burn risk.
Do you have a copy of that study? that would be an interesting read.premammalian":prys0fz3 said:This applies only for some slow boid snakes, not for bearded dragons. Bearded dragons live in extremely hot environments in the desert and knowing when it is too hot is vital for their survival. Bearded dragons are more than capable to escape from a hot sun-heated place outdoors, and surely a heat pad cannot do harm. I do use one for spring and fall when the lamp cannot raise the temperature enough with good results. Actually a study was made to test for the efficacy of various analgesics on bearded dragons, using hot surfaces for monitoring pain.
So what they essentially did was prove the heat does cause them pain. They were testing analgesics (surface pain blockers) on bearded dragons.... for what purpose? I find this a little more than disturbing.premammalian":t1udxv9j said:Actually a study was made to test for the efficacy of various analgesics on bearded dragons, using hot surfaces for monitoring pain.
Depending on how the study was conducted it could be ethica. Pain management in reptiles is woefully behind other animals, understanding the efficacy of drugs is Important.Gormagon":1xbdx5em said:So what they essentially did was prove the heat does cause them pain. They were testing analgesics (surface pain blockers) on bearded dragons.... for what purpose? I find this a little more than disturbing.premammalian":1xbdx5em said:Actually a study was made to test for the efficacy of various analgesics on bearded dragons, using hot surfaces for monitoring pain.
twixy79":2o38p6kq said:So I am a new beardie owner, and I find this very interesting. We currently have a heat mat under our new beardies 10gal tank, however we know the 10gal was only a temporary home, so we have a 55 gal. that we are working on now. With that being said, I thought using a heat mat would be great since it diffuses the heat, but I mean, a ceramic heat emitter could essentially do the same thing, only in a slightly more concentrated area.
What I found very interesting about heat mats is that they are actually more efficient when placed on the "back" of the tank? We have a Zilla mat, and it clearly states for best results place on back of tank... If that was the case, I'd assume that unless your beardie is a glass surfer, they'd be pretty safe.....
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?