Himalayan Salt Lamp? (Safe?)

[noodles123]

So, I was looking at a Himalayan salt lamp today (not because I believe it will heal me or something, but because I miss the glow of candles). It required a 25 watt bulb...Now, I haven't ever touched one before (while turned on), so I don't know if they get hot or could be hazardous due to airborne toxins of some sort.
The back of the box said something silly about how it "MAY help purify the air by producing some negative ions"

I have read that ionizing air filters are bad, but is this just literally a lump of salt with a light in it, or am I missing something?

 

[chris-md]

It’s just a lamp, they don’t give off anything. Perfectly safe and pretty to look at. That’s it.

 

[ChristaNL]

I have two (not in action atm -> the house is a mess) but they do not get hot.
Slightly warmer than bodyheat maybe.

I think at one time or another all my (human) guest have tried to taste them, so no idea how an inquisitive bird will react!
Would be fun to find out.


(I miss candles too)

 

[Kiwibird]

My mom has one of these and her amazon goes as far to occasionally lick it and likes to sit near it (the warmth? The 'good vibes? The soft light? no clue why). I know somewhere I have a picture my mom sent of her cuddled up right next to the lamp. Has never hurt her, though she obviously isn't allowed to chomp it or wouldn't be allowed near it if she became obsessed with it or something. Don't take that as let your parrot play with the lamp/consume tons of salt, but the occasional 'lick' is probably fine

As for the negative ions it produces, if you lived in a costal climate or near a river etc..., there would be far more in the air naturally than a salt lamp could ever produce and parrots don't die if their owners live near the beach. The biggest issue to my understanding with air purifiers that produce negative ions is they also produce ozone, which can affect the repertory functions of birds. But salt lamps won't produce ozone.

 

[EllenD]

I have a few of them and they don't get at all hot, so I doubt they release any ions into the air, lol...They are just what they say, a big chunk of salt mined from wherever they are said to be from. I don't suggest letting your birds lick them, which they might want to do because they are salt after all, because if they were to consume enough salt problems will ensue...But otherwise no dangers, and probably no "benefits" except they look cool...I have one that is color-changing, it's pretty cool...

 

[Scott]

I also have a few, appreciated for their unique form and soft glow. None of my birds have shown an interest; consider them benign provided Noodles doesn't lick or eat the salt.

 

[EllenD]

I also have a few, appreciated for their unique form and soft glow. None of my birds have shown an interest; consider them benign provided Noodles doesn't lick or eat the salt.

Though my birds have not ever shown any interest in the ones I have either, I will go ahead and admit that years ago, when they first came out and I bought my first one, I did in-fact touch my tongue to it I had it in my head that they probably weren't actually natural salt that was just mined, drilled and shaped, and sold, I was convinced that they were manufactured and had plastic or something coating them, etc...

Guess what...They're just big chunks of salt...

No, i'm not ashamed

 

[Laurasea]

Ellen my parrents have one, I tasted it too! Yep salt. Noodles it is a nice relaxing glow.

 

[MauiWendy]

Ok yes I licked mine too ��. I have two, one in the living room and one in my bedroom. I love the orange glow ambiance it give off. It’s a great night light for the fids too.