Is my method flawed, or fine?

ErikBush97 · 10-02-13, 02:14 PM

Hi everyone, I keep one thermometer on the hot side of each of my snakes enclosures, and I have one thermometer on the shelve next to my snakes, which I use to gauge their cold sides. Is using room temp to measure their cold sides okay? I can buy more thermometers if I need to.

formica · 10-02-13, 02:34 PM

its not very effective to be honest, because enclosures hold heat from the heat source, to a varying degree depending on a few diffrent factors. but at the very least, it will tell you if the enclosure is likley to be too cold - it just wont tell you if the cool side is too warm

ErikBush97 · 10-02-13, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

its not very effective to be honest, because enclosures hold heat from the heat source, to a varying degree depending on a few diffrent factors. but at the very least, it will tell you if the enclosure is likley to be too cold - it just wont tell you if the cool side is too warm

Awesome! Thanks.
I'll go ahead and buy more. I don't really like the ones I have.. Could you recommend some?

formica · 10-02-13, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GotsaQuestion

Awesome! Thanks.
I'll go ahead and buy more. I don't really like the ones I have.. Could you recommend some?

Thermometers are all mostly the same regardless of the cost, the only diffrence really comes when you need a hygrometer aswell, the cheaper ones will work great for a while, but often the probes will rust up and they become unreliable very quickly - i dont know any US brands unfortunetly, but for the thermometer you dont have to be fussy, I like the Inside-Outside units, that have a single probe, so you can put the unit on the cool side, and the probe @ the basking spot, and get an instant reading for both ends.

Its always worth having a spare hygrometer available to do occasional tests, and if you can afford one which can be calibrated then all the better (for eg digital ones designed for Cigar Humidors) - learn the Salt Calibration method, very simple, to make sure everythings reading the correct level

Terranaut · 10-02-13, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

Thermometers are all mostly the same regardless of the cost, the only diffrence really comes when you need a hygrometer aswell, the cheaper ones will work great for a while, but often the probes will rust up and they become unreliable very quickly - i dont know any US brands unfortunetly, but for the thermometer you dont have to be fussy, I like the Inside-Outside units, that have a single probe, so you can put the unit on the cool side, and the probe @ the basking spot, and get an instant reading for both ends.

Its always worth having a spare hygrometer available to do occasional tests, and if you can afford one which can be calibrated then all the better (for eg digital ones designed for Cigar Humidors) - learn the Salt Calibration method, very simple, to make sure everythings reading the correct level

Not all thermometers are the same. I have looked at a shelf load of the exo terra round dial types and seen an 18º spread all on the same shelf , new in the package. Do not use these or the matching hygometer. Best investment for temps is the infra-red temp gun hands down.

formica · 10-03-13, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Not all thermometers are the same. I have looked at a shelf load of the exo terra round dial types and seen an 18º spread all on the same shelf , new in the package. Do not use these or the matching hygometer. Best investment for temps is the infra-red temp gun hands down.

yes, I tend to assume, incorrectly perhaps, that people already know that analog dial meters are inaccurate - digital meters all the way.

formica · 10-02-13, 02:51 PM

also an infra-red thermometer gun is an excellent investment, they are the most reliable method for checking basking spots, they arnt expensive and worth every penny

ErikBush97 · 10-02-13, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

also an infra-red thermometer gun is an excellent investment, they are the most reliable method for checking basking spots, they arnt expensive and worth every penny

I have wanted one for awhile. I'll get one with my next check

Chris72 · 10-02-13, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

also an infra-red thermometer gun is an excellent investment, they are the most reliable method for checking basking spots, they arnt expensive and worth every penny

Yes, you should have temp gun. That is the only thermometer you need.

What kind of animal(s) do you keep? How do you provide heat?

Chances are you need a thermostat to control temps properly-not thermometers.

Without a thermostat there is a high likelyhood your "method is flawed"

.

marvelfreak · 10-02-13, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

also an infra-red thermometer gun is an excellent investment, they are the most reliable method for checking basking spots, they arnt expensive and worth every penny

Also called a temp gun. You can find them on E-Bay cheap. You'll be amazed at how much more accurate they are and how far off a regular thermometer is.

ErikBush97 · 10-03-13, 10:01 AM

1. All my snakes have UTH's and Thermostats.
2. I own three Boas, 1 Ball Python, and 1 colubrid.

B_Aller · 10-03-13, 11:37 AM

My feeling is that air temps are worthless to reptiles, I think we've learned in the last 10 years or so that surface temps are all that matters for the animals so that should be all that a keeper concerns him/her self with. IR temp guns are cheap, easy to find and work great, why bother with ambient temps?
I agree that herp stats or pulse thermos are great but you need to check the actual temps the animal is using, it will tell you a lot about how your enclosure design is working..or not!
Best.

ErikBush97 · 10-03-13, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B_Aller

My feeling is that air temps are worthless to reptiles, I think we've learned in the last 10 years or so that surface temps are all that matters for the animals so that should be all that a keeper concerns him/her self with. IR temp guns are cheap, easy to find and work great, why bother with ambient temps?
I agree that herp stats or pulse thermos are great but you need to check the actual temps the animal is using, it will tell you a lot about how your enclosure design is working..or not!
Best.

Thanks. I found one for like $15, but I have exactly $0 until the 7th lol

shaunyboy · 10-03-13, 03:20 PM

i use a cheap dial thermometer placed dead centre of the back wall of the tank,this gives me a general idea of the tank temp at a glance

i use a lazer temperature gun to check the temps more accuratly

cheers shaun

Terranaut · 10-03-13, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

i use a cheap dial thermometer placed dead centre of the back wall of the tank,this gives me a general idea of the tank temp at a glance

i use a lazer temperature gun to check the temps more accuratly

cheers shaun

I think we talked about this before about using those as a change reference and not trusting the actual number. Same with the hygometers. In other words if you set you hot spot to 90 and the dial says 80 a sudden reading of 70 after 5yrs at 80 can indicate a problem but not give you an accurate reading.