infrared thermometer

Do i need a $60 thermometer gun or is there a cheaper gun out there thats reliable?

They all seem to have an accuracy of +/- 2 degrees, just like the digital thermometers many people use. Personally I don't use them except to check feeder rodent temperatures.

But you do get why you pay for.

Any of these are fine:

http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermometers

http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Temperatur...4844501&sr=8-1

I had this one for awhile, it works pretty well. It does have a 1:1 ratio so i got concerned about the temps at the back of the tubs and ended up getting the pro exotics PE-2:

http://www.proexotics.com/store/home.php?cat=248

they both work great, but ultimately the pro exotics one fells better built and will probably last longer. Good Luck!

I've never had a single complaint about my RBI temp gun.

I have a expensive one a cheap one and a mid priced one all the same specs (+/-2ºF) and all read slightly different (0.4º of each other) and slightly off (about 0.8º wrong). They are great quick check tools and fast scan tools they are not the most accurate or consistent of tools as long as you understand the limitations they are great.