A: Hi E, Thaksm for reaching out! The Lava Lamps use a 25 watt light bulb.

A: All lava lamps get hot. This is my fourth one. It's important that you take care not to move the lamp while it's on, but if it truly needs to be moved while the lamp is on, get a kitchen towel or a potholder to carefully move it in a safe place or distance, especially from children and pets. Also, read the instruction manual as every lamp has a time limit. For instance, mine can be left on for eight hours at a time and then cooled off before it can be on again. I typically turn these on at nights and then turn it off before bedtime. If it's on for longer than what the manual recommends, it could destroy the gel inside and possibly the lamp itself. According to the lava lamp website regarding safety, "Lava lamps are generally very safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take a few sensible precautions before and during use." Hope this helps.