Basking rocks for reptiles, Do you really need to buy special rocks?

I got to rock yards and get mine. A lot cheaper than pet stores plus more choices most are sold by the pound. Stay away from real dark rocks or granite they can get too hot and burn your pet. All my rocks in my 6 aquariums and 5 lizard tanks are from the same rock yard. Look up rock yard in the yellow pages most areas have them. I know there is free rocks out there in your yard but rock yards have very good ones I set up a 75g breaded dragon tank and it cost me under $20 for all of his rocks and had someone offer me $50 for just the rocks. Just be sure no mater where you get them from to clean them real good. I spray mine with hot water till clean of dirt them put bolling water on them. Care full when poring boiling water not to get a steam burn. Small rocks you can just boil in a pot but I have some huge rocks in my tanks.

Basking Rock

You can take a rock from your yard if it is sterilized etc. It's pretty much the same rock you would get from the store, just free and it most likely looks more realistic. Any rock will do, just so long as it has a relatively flat surface for the reptile to lay on while he basks.

Hope I helped! : )

Reptiles are cold blooded, so yes, they need a heated basking rock. Regular rocks are fine too for climbing and stuff, but regular rocks don't give off heat when they're not in the sun. Reptiles absolutely need to have a place to warm themselves if they need to.

For my savannah monitor I went to home depot and got a sandstone stepping stone, cleaned it well and put it in his cage under his ceramic heat emitter. Whatever you do DO NOT get a heated basking rock!!! They die out quick and can electrocute your reptile! Heating pads are the way to go for under tank heating

I find heatting pads work well as long as he can regulate his owen tep.by moving around in his cage.So if it gets to warm in one place he can move to another.