Best Thermometer

[mysterysock]

Hey my thermometer crapped out and I need a new RELIABLE one. I've been reading up on the temp guns but don't know which one is the best. Does anyone have any good advice or recommendations? Thanks!

 

[peera]

I <3 my Accurite indoor/outdoor from Walmart. I've heard good things about temp guns, but never actually used one.

 

[diamc]

Temperature guns are great, you just point and shoot which gives you an instant reading. Here's some that I found when I did a search for you. http://www.amazon.com/Raytek-Non-Contact-Thermometer-Laser-Sighting/dp/B0002198GY

WalMart carries the AcuRite brand digital thermometer with probe for about $12.00 which works great too. It gives both basking and cool side temps at the same time as well as a humidity readout. With the digitals with probes though, you have to wait about 45 minutes to get the final readings. I actually have 2 AcuRites as well as a mini and full sized infrared temp gun and they all work well.

 

[mysterysock]

So do you actually point the gun at your reptile to see if their skin temperature is at the appropriate basking temperature? Or do you point it on the surface of the basking site or what?

 

[diamc]

You can actually do both or either. You want to get a reading from 2" away. Another thing that the temp gun is great for is checking bath temp.

 

[mysterysock]

I found a Zilla Temp-Gun - good/bad? And do you use a temp-gun along with a probe of some kind or is just the gun good enough to maintain appropriate temps?

 

[mysterysock]

Or is it best just to have a few digital probes in there? It seems to me the temp guns are unreliable as they only detect the temperature of the surface, not the ambient temps.. right?

 

[diamc]

I found a Zilla Temp-Gun - good/bad? And do you use a temp-gun along with a probe of some kind or is just the gun good enough to maintain appropriate temps?

That temp gun is fine. Having one or the other is fine but I personally like using both to double check the temps. For a quick reading, a temp gun is good but using a digital with probe on hand is a good idea too I feel.

 

[diamc]

Or is it best just to have a few digital probes in there? It seems to me the temp guns are unreliable as they only detect the temperature of the surface, not the ambient temps.. right?

If you buy a digital with probe that gives 2 readings then you don't need to use 2 probe thermometers. The AcuRite brand that I mentioned in a post above gives both readings at once and also has a humidity readout. Here's a picture of it:

With a temp gun you can get ambient readings by pointing in different areas in the tank.