Important Advice for Newbies (from a fellow newbie)

[das_nooblet]

For any new or prospective snake-buyers, make sure you buy an infrared thermometer (temp gun), it is an important tool for spot checking your temperatures.

I have my bp's tank set up just like in the stickied threads, with digital thermometers each side of the tank, a centrally-located heat lamp w/ dimmer switch (rheostat), and a UTH w/ thermostat under the warm side.
I check the thermometers before going to bed and in the morning, and adjust the heat lamp if necessary (if it's going to be a warmer day, colder night, etc.). Everything always seems fine.

Today, while buying some more clutter for the tank, I noticed that the store had basic infrared thermometers in stock again (~$25 CDN). I had skipped over it when buying my initial gear (figured it was more for the serious harpist), and it slipped my mind after that.

After getting home, I checked out the tank with my new toy. I discovered that except over top of the UTH I had nowhere near as much of a proper temperature gradient as I had thought, based on the thermometers. Though nothing was in a harmful range (low or high), it still does not strike me as a healthy setup for a reptile.


TL;DR - Go buy an infrared thermometer, they're relatively inexpensive and will ensure the best environment for your slithery friend

[BCS]

Where in Calgary did you get a temp gun for $25? I have not seen them cheaper then $45... I spent a lot of money on mine!

[das_nooblet]

Where in Calgary did you get a temp gun for $25? I have not seen them cheaper then $45... I spent a lot of money on mine!

Just a simple Exo-Terra one. Got it today at Pisces, in NE Calgary (Deerfoot/McKnight, if you're familiar with the city)

Can also order one from Cornel's World for $28+shipping (http://cornelsworld.com/product/corn...-201-temp-gun/) He operates out of the same area, so if you can potentially pick orders up yourself if he has them in stock, instead of paying for shipping.

[BCS]

Just a simple Exo-Terra one. Got it today at Pisces, in NE Calgary (Deerfoot/McKnight, if you're familiar with the city)

Can also order one from Cornel's World for $28+shipping (http://cornelsworld.com/product/corn...-201-temp-gun/) He operates out of the same area, so if you can potentially pick orders up yourself if he has them in stock, instead of paying for shipping.

Yea, I am just outside of Calgary, and I actually just bought a herpstat from Greg (Cornel's World) today. And Pisces is where I get my feeder mice from.

And I see, you mean the little laser pointing type one... I have seen it and yea, I prefer the big deal temp guns. You know, something more like this one, http://cornelsworld.com/product/corn...l-ir-temp-gun/ but to each their own. No offense to Cornel's world though, I found mine a little cheaper at home hardware.

The thermometers with the probes aren't too bad though. Usually they can be a couple of degrees off. Right now my digital probe thermometer is reading 92.9F while the herpstat is reading 92.0F. The temp gun is reading 91.6F. Which one is actually right is a very good question but do these few point degrees really matter? Your temperatures must have been very different though right? Like a couple degrees apart. As bad as this really may sound, might not hurt to get a third thermometer and see what that one says kind of like I do? Just a suggestion though. These thermometers are still technology and can always have flaws. So really your first thermometer could have been right, while the laser temp gun may have a flaw or may not be calibrated properly?

[das_nooblet]

The thermometers with the probes aren't too bad though. Usually they can be a couple of degrees off. Right now my digital probe thermometer is reading 92.9F while the herpstat is reading 92.0F. The temp gun is reading 91.6F. Which one is actually right is a very good question but do these few point degrees really matter? Your temperatures must have been very different though right? Like a couple degrees apart. As bad as this really may sound, might not hurt to get a third thermometer and see what that one says kind of like I do? Just a suggestion though. These thermometers are still technology and can always have flaws. So really your first thermometer could have been right, while the laser temp gun may have a flaw or may not be calibrated properly?

Contemplating a third thermometer. when spot-checking around the tank, I found that my gradient was all of a couple degrees, and I actually had several spots (including the hide) on the cool side that were warmer than the warm side and vice versa

Spent a little bit playing around with the lamp placement and rheostat, and managed to get it more like what it should be
May also have been caused by poor placement of the thermometer probes maybe.

Pretty certain the temp gun is working fine. Went playing around with it throughout the house, and numerous things (fridge, fish tank, dog, etc)were reading as they should or as expected

Overall though, I'm still sorry I didn't pick this little gizmo up when I got my snake

[BCS]

Contemplating a third thermometer. when spot-checking around the tank, I found that my gradient was all of a couple degrees, and I actually had several spots (including the hide) on the cool side that were warmer than the warm side and vice versa

Spent a little bit playing around with the lamp placement and rheostat, and managed to get it more like what it should be
May also have been caused by poor placement of the thermometer probes maybe.

Pretty certain the temp gun is working fine. Went playing around with it throughout the house, and numerous things (fridge, fish tank, dog, etc)were reading as they should or as expected

Overall though, I'm still sorry I didn't pick this little gizmo up when I got my snake

Well, if you are happy with it, no one can complain!
And I just had to once you said it... I used my temp gun to measure my dog's temperature 96.6... all though it isn't an accurate way take a dogs temperature which is why it seems to be a bit cooler then a dog's actual temperature... lol.

[BWB]

I got mine at Canadian Tire, on sale, for $19.99. Probably not the greatest but works fine (was $99.99).

[nightwolfsnow]

Contemplating a third thermometer. when spot-checking around the tank, I found that my gradient was all of a couple degrees, and I actually had several spots (including the hide) on the cool side that were warmer than the warm side and vice versa

Spent a little bit playing around with the lamp placement and rheostat, and managed to get it more like what it should be
May also have been caused by poor placement of the thermometer probes maybe.

Pretty certain the temp gun is working fine. Went playing around with it throughout the house, and numerous things (fridge, fish tank, dog, etc)were reading as they should or as expected

Overall though, I'm still sorry I didn't pick this little gizmo up when I got my snake

When I got my infrared laser thermometer I measured my dog's head XD, among numerous other random things.

[das_nooblet]

Well, if you are happy with it, no one can complain!
And I just had to once you said it... I used my temp gun to measure my dog's temperature 96.6... all though it isn't an accurate way take a dogs temperature which is why it seems to be a bit cooler then a dog's actual temperature... lol.

4 degree celsius difference between her coat and her nose

[The Golem]

Shouldn't need to spend more than around $20-25.

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=...e+gun&_sacat=0

And you can easily check accuracy with ice cube and boiling water.

The guns also great for checking the temperature of f/t rats.