Dangerous Petstore Thermometers

[DVirginiana]

So, we all know that those round little thermometer/hygrometer sets aren't the most accurate. I've been wanting to get a more accurate thermometer for awhile, and with some of the deals today I managed to find a decent one we could work into our budget. It's one of the hand-held infrared ones, but it seems to be pretty accurate. Also picked up a timer for lights

Pointing the new thermometer at the old one, it read 87.5, while the old one was saying 79. I've noticed the temp reading from it looking a little ridiculous, so I kept her tank with the old thermometer reading at or below 80 (So she was probably never above the max recommended temp of 85 for more than an hour or two at a time. I feel horrible about this, and I'm glad I got to replace it sooner than I thought I would).

I just wanted to warn anyone using one of the round thermometers designed to stick to the side of the cage. If someone were keeping one of these reading 85 for any length of time, the actual temps could be high enough to be dangerous. Maybe they aren't all THAT far off and I just had a bad one, idk.
I was expecting it to be maybe two or three degrees off, but almost ten degrees is scary.

[perfectlypierced]

That's exactly why I have an infrared one

[DeeDub]

What infrared temp gun do you use?

[perfectlypierced]

Its the PE (pro exotics) 2 temp gun

[GrifTheGreat]

Yeas you've got to watch out for analog gauges. They tend to lose calibration and read incorrectly after a short time. I go digital all the way now and they never lose calibration, but will quit after a while and need replacing. Hygrotherms are one of the most accurate, but are exspensive as they are a climate control unit. Analog are ok for temporary use, but not as a permanant gaughe.

[deranged chipmunk]

I'm with Grif. Give me digital or give me death. I only use digital in my tanks and at work.

[DVirginiana]

The brand I got was either repti-temp or repti-therm... I don't remember exactly what it was called. I've been wanting one of the really high quality ones, but I needed whatever replacement I could get :P

[sschind]

Just be aware that those point and shoot type IR thermometers are less accurate at further distances. Try to get as close a possible to the surface you want to measure. I have one of the laser type ones and at 4 feet it reads almost 20 degrees cooler than at 4 inches. Of course that was of very hot temperatures. When dealing with lower temps that we are used to dealing with the difference is less pronounced but still can be several degrees off.