Lookin for some clarification

[Eddie_Z]

I know that there was a thread about this at some point in the recent past but I could not find it. I just got my temp gun in the mail & i went into the tank to check things out. Now my acu-rite digital thermo says that the warm side is 92F right now. I have the thing laid right on the substrate. However, the temp gun says that the warm side is anywhere from like 78F-98F. What the heck is goin on!? I am confused! Please help or at the very least help my silly butt find the old thread on this topic please!

PS: I am assuming that since my snake is happy, uses both sides of the tank, eats every week & had a perfect shed that I am ok, but this has me confused & concerned.

[JamminJonah]

well, depending on where you are aiming your temp gun is likely getting floor temps (if you are aiming down) thus measuring the heat of the floor where as the probe is measuring whatever is around it - it's normal to have some hot spots just make sure the heat isn't astronomical in one area.

[JLC]

Are you aiming the temp gun through the glass or screened lid or anything? Because that will give false readings. It may also depend on how far away you hold it when aiming. I just got mine in the mail yesterday and haven't had much chance to play with it yet, but I'm thinking it's not going to be quite so brainless a way to measure as I'd hoped. My plan is to trust the current digital therm that I have and use it to "teach" me how to measure with the gun...comparing temps until I figure out how far away the gun needs to be held to get an accurate reading of what I'm trying to measure.