Using a digital thermometer

[pamelacoe]

I just purchased a zoo-med digital thermometer with a probe online; it should be here in a few days. Just where on my basking side do I put the probe? I know it has a suction cup on it, but I am not sure where to stick it (NO JOKES, :lol: ). I was going to buy the Accurite at Walmart the other day but the probe part looked like it just had sticky on the back of it and you stuck to the glass. I didn't buy it because I thought the that little temperature bit had to sit where you are trying to measure the temperature.

I would appreciate it if you let me know how to use this thing properly so I know when it does arrive.

Thanks

 

[ClydesGirl]

You want to put it as close as possible to where your beardie sits while basking. Most people stick it directly on the basking surface. I don't know that the suction cup will do you all that much good. I just stick the probe from my Acu-rite directly on Clyde's basking rock.

 

[diamc]

With the AcuRite, you don't stick the probe to the glass. There is a paper on it that you peel off then stick the probe right on the basking area and directly under the heat bulb. I've heard that the ZooMed (if it's the yellow one) is not quite as accurate but will give you a pretty good idea of the temps.

Make sure to wait at least 45 min for the temp to stop rising before getting the final basking reading then move the probe end to the bottom of the cool side and wait the same amount of time to get the reading there.

 

[pamelacoe]

Thanks, I think next paycheck I will get the Accurite for the basking spot and move the zoo-med over to the cool side, but for right now (once it arrives) I will have to use the one. I just want to get out of depending on the analog one.

 

[diamc]

If you get the Acurite with the dual readings, you can get both basking & cool side temps at the same time, it also has a humidity readout. Is a great buy for about $12.00.

 

[pamelacoe]

Okay, I picked up the Accurite at Walmart today. When I got it home I stuck the probe part on his basking rock. He seemed real freaked out about it and after I put him on the rock, he quickly ran off and went in his hide. He never goes there, unless he is walking through and the lights go out; then he will just fall asleep there. I tried sticking him on there again, same result. So I stuck it on the tank level with his basking point. It took him about three hours to agree to sick on the rock like that. So I am figuring that if I want the most accurate reading, I will have to stick the probe on his rock for a few minutes, and get a reading and otherwise leave it off the rock. I took some pics, please let me know what you think:

 

[diamc]

Awww, what a cutie. The tank looks absolutely gorgeous.

He will probably get used to the probe being on his rock but if he sits on it, unfortunately you won't get a good reading. What you could do is get the reading while he's out of the tank, in his bath perhaps. It's very important to wait at least 45 min for the temp to stop rising before you get the final reading.

 

[pamelacoe]

Thanks, the temp reading were shown during the evening, so his tank had been able to settle its heat. He is a cutie, isn't he