Temperature Guns...how did I ever survive without one!

I have up until this point relied on digital thermometers, but with my new AP cage, I went ahead and got a temp gun too...now I don't know what I would do without it. The digital thermometers are usually 5-8 degrees lower than what the temp gun is reading...I know that this is only measuring surface temperatures, but knowing that his hot hide is actually 90 on the glass and 88 on the surface is soooo comforting. I've removed most of the digital and just check with the gun twice a day now...no more thermometers for him to knock over or bury in the substrate. I even found that he eats better if I get the rats to exactly 102 - rat body temperature :)

But this brings up a question, What exactly are the digital thermometers measure? Is it air temperature, the surface they are on, or are they just not as accurate as the temp gun?

temp gun will measure the surface area whereas most digital thermometers will take ambient temperatures. Accuracy varies a lot depending on the unity you have, you have to check the manufacturers specs to see.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crowfingers

I have up until this point relied on digital thermometers, but with my new AP cage, I went ahead and got a temp gun too...now I don't know what I would do without it. The digital thermometers are usually 5-8 degrees lower than what the temp gun is reading...I know that this is only measuring surface temperatures, but knowing that his hot hide is actually 90 on the glass and 88 on the surface is soooo comforting. I've removed most of the digital and just check with the gun twice a day now...no more thermometers for him to knock over or bury in the substrate. I even found that he eats better if I get the rats to exactly 102 - rat body temperature :)

But this brings up a question, What exactly are the digital thermometers measure? Is it air temperature, the surface they are on, or are they just not as accurate as the temp gun?

---

Are you referring to those useless , stick on the glass ones from Exo Terra ( they don't have wires or a probe ). ?? They just measure ambient temps as mentioned above .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

Are you referring to those useless , stick on the glass ones from Exo Terra ( they don't have wires or a probe ). ?? They just measure ambient temps as mentioned above .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

---

PS

I love my temp gun as well !!!

Only cost 13 dollars off eBay as well


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Gotta have a temp gun. I do rely on digital thermometers from day to day but I also use my temp gun daily as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

Are you referring to those useless , stick on the glass ones from Exo Terra ( they don't have wires or a probe ). ?? They just measure ambient temps as mentioned above .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

---

No, those do suck! I have always used zoomed / exoterra LED digital thermometers with the 4 foot wire probe. Something like this https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/s...Yh8qg&usqp=CAE

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crowfingers

No, those do suck! I have always used zoomed / exoterra LED digital thermometers with the 4 foot wire probe. Something like this https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...p%3Busqp%3DCAE

---

I use the Accurites with the probe. I love to just walk by the enclosures and see my Ambiant temps that my RHP hold..mine dont get knocked over, theres anscrew mount they slide down onto and I put them on the back wall of the enclosures. I Silicone down the Probe to keep a 24/7 tab on the UTH temp... I also use the Lazer to spot check surfaces... There all within 2 degrees so thats pretty good.