Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am using a 120 watt bulb for my enclosure. George can get 6-8" from the light. I have been using an Accurite thermometer and it reads 129-131. We just bought a temp. gun, and when I used it, it read 119 at the same spot.
Which one do I go by?! That is too much of a difference for a uro, so now I am really confused! And poor George probably isn't very happy with me moving thngs around, trying to adjust the temps. for him.

Thank you,
Angel

most thermometers give a different reading between them the heatguns are more reliable you can even buy some that allow you to shoot both sides of the tank and it will give you your temp gradient for that enclosure. good luck with your uromastyx

my babies:
two ballpythons 1.1
one grey band kingsnake 0.1
two beardies ?
two cal kings 1.1

most thermometers give a different reading between them the heatguns are more reliable you can even buy some that allow you to shoot both sides of the tank and it will give you your temp gradient for that enclosure. good luck with your uromastyx

This is excellent advice.

I will add to this by pointing out the the digital "non-contact" temperature guns read an average for the area it sees. If you "shoot" the temp from too far away you will be very bad numbers versus taking the temp from a very close distance. Only because it averages the area it sees.

I also wish good luck with your uro.
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

I have a TempGun and it is so inaccurate that I don't use it anymore. It reports temps far lower than they actually are. I have tested this several ways - with lab grade mercury thermometers placed at various distances from the heat source and substrate. Chris

>>I have a TempGun and it is so inaccurate that I don't use it anymore. It reports temps far lower than they actually are. I have tested this several ways - with lab grade mercury thermometers placed at various distances from the heat source and substrate. Chris

From how far away? Have you tested it basically directly on the spot tested?? If not then the cone will be large and the temps too low.
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

The accurite has a probe and a digital readout? It's measuring the air temp of wherever the probe is. The temp gun reads the surface temp of what you're shooting. Both can be right even though they're very different. I don't think you'll have a problem with the temps you mentioned, if I'm reading them right.
-----
Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
0.1 Collared Lizard (Rorschach)
2.1 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)

Yes, it has the probe and digital readout. The probe is actually glued to the surface of his basking spot because he kept knocking it off. Silly lizard! Anyway, he is eating ok, but seems to be sluggish. I checked the temps both ways and found the huge discrepancy and panicked! He is a rescue that was in a TERRIBLE situation and a FILTHY cage. I know he is Saharan, but I don't have an age. He is posted in the photo gallery, George.
Any advice is great!

Angel

ps - he has not been to the vet. we have no reptile vets in our area, so the closest is approx. 2 hours away.

Call around and see if anyone is willing to do a fecal check. They can probably at least do that for you. Then look farther afield. You may require a vet someday and HAVE to know where to find one.

The temperature gradient you want throughout the cage is mostly the ambient air temps: 100F through a large part of the cage, a cool end around 85F. The basking temp (surface, not necessarily air) should be around 120F.
-----
Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, and Tank)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
0.1 Collared Lizard (Rorschach)
2.1 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Chubby Housecats (Roscolux and Jenny)