Reptile & Amphibian Forums

aight my old temp gauge finally bit the dust. i had a digital one with a probe that worked well for along time. now i bought a temp gun from proexotics. the thing is i can seem to get a reading that seems right. if i hold it at the top of the cage near the basking light and point it down it says its around 92, but if i put it at the bottom and point up towards the bulb it read about 112-115. im just not sure how to get an accurate reading with this stupid thing. anyone got any ideas or tips
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Beach Beardies

2.2. bearded dragons
1.1. Sugar Gliders
0.2. Felines *queen athena and missy*

temp guns measure surface temps, not air temps./ If you are pointing it at the bulb, it will of course be hotter, as you are getting the temperature right on the surface of the bulb. What you want to do is measure the top of the basking area, to get the basking temp. It is also still good to have a thermometer with probe to measure ambient temperature.
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PHLdyPayne

I have a small one that I think is called a PE-1. It has a 1:1 ratio which means you have to hold it one inch away to measure the temp. in a 1" circle. So the moral is you have to hold it close to the surface you want to measure.

well measuring the surface temp does no good does it? you want the air temp of the basking spot right? so what good is a tempgun if they measure only surface temps?
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Beach Beardies

2.2. bearded dragons
1.1. Sugar Gliders
0.2. Felines *queen athena and missy*

Actually the term basking spot means surface temp. It is the combination of the heat from the light above plus the heat absorbed and reflected by the surface. A temp. gun is the best way to measure a basking spot. Ambient should be much lower. You would never want ambient (air) temp to be anywhere near 105. My thermostats regulate air temps. at 91.

ok now i understand a bit better. its was told me differntly before. anyways, so my air temps are around 90-92 in my cage, why do my dragons seem like their are dehydrated all the time even when i have water in there for them and bath them every couple days? they also spend their time on the cool side of the cages mostly and gaping alot also? the basking temps says its 110 and the air temps in the low 90s
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Beach Beardies

2.2. bearded dragons
1.1. Sugar Gliders
0.2. Felines *queen athena and missy*

All dragons are different. Some are heat lovers and others are not as much. From what you are saying I'd lower your temps.

You have all adults and sub adults. 110 is really too hot for them. I'd get your basking temp. to about 103 - 105.

I have very large enclosures now. The basking area is 12" x 40" of natural slate tile. The temp. probes for my thermostats are kindof in the middle and set at 91. But at the back of the basking area the ambient is 87 and at the front the ambient is 85. My dragons spend a lot of time at the front near the glass. Maybe for the view, but also maybe for the 85 ambient rather than the 91 ambient father back.

I posted a pic. of one of my cages. The thermostat probe is taped to the wall on the right and as I said is set for 91. The temp. guage on the right (back wall) normally reads 87 and the one on the left (near the glass) normally reads 85. The other wire you see taped to the wall is an ESU digital temp. guage with a separate probe that if imbedded in the center of the basking light and displays the basking temp. on the outside of the cage. All 6 of my new enclosures are the same.

I use a lot of observation when initially setting up an enclosure.

If a dragon spends a lot of time away from the warm end then it's probably too hot. If the dragon never moves from the warm end then it's probably too cool. In your case maybe the cool end is too warm too and it's taking them a long time to cool down.

I like this question. Too many people just take temps. as gospel. In the wild dragons can move all over to find the most comfortable temp. for them. In captivity too many people just pick a temp. for their dragon and figure it will be fine.

I'm sure everybody knows someone that sweats profusely when it's 75 and someone else who is freezing at that same temp.

thanks for your input on this BDLVR. this has given me much more outlook and direction how to set my temps up in my new cages set ups. i will admit i did not do it right when i built my melamine, i did them 2 feet wide by 3 feet long. i didnt know as much then as i do know about the heating and cooling and why such a big cage for a dragon. anyways, i now have a 5 stack of 4 foot long cages from BOAMASTER. the height isnt as tall on them, only 18 inches i think, but that should be fine. at least the air temps will get cooler on the cool ends of the cage. im in the middle of wiring all the lighting for them and getting ready to install them tomorrow. 2 cages will have a divder in them to make 4 cages total for babies or smaller dragons. the other 3 will hold my adults until i can sell them, then they will house my 2 trans het hypos i will be breeding later.

i have 3 reostats coming from petmountain to control temps. also getting some new digital probe thermometers to help as well.
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Beach Beardies

2.2. bearded dragons
1.1. Sugar Gliders
0.2. Felines *queen athena and missy*

Love your setup, BD! Did you build it? Is the darker stuff metal??

Thanks, Yes I built them myself. I built (3) 5' x 3' 6" and (3) 4' x 3' 6" they are 24" tall. The outside is Melamine. The basking spot is made of Melamine and then has composite board as trim. The surface and ramp are natural slate tiles.

Beachbeardie I understand your problem with the 3' cages. I love the 5' cages I have whether they are the Melamines I built or the 5' Terrarium. It just seems you have to have 5' to really get the temps. right.

Beachbeardie, in HD they sell a narrow (10 degree) 50W Halogen spot called a Halogena. You could try that in your 3' cages. The narrow spot puts most of the heat and light in a small area and is great for a 1 dragon basking spot.

thanks for the tips BDLVR. i will look for those, but i am moving all of my dragons into new 4 foot cages. its a 5 stack of 4 foot cages, and one of em up top is sectioned off to make 2-2foot cages for baby bins and small dragons.
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Beach Beardies

2.2. bearded dragons
1.1. Sugar Gliders
0.2. Felines *queen athena and missy*