Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are they better than nothing, good but nowhere near the higher priced ones, or just as good as the higher priced ones. One obvious difference is that the better ones some to have a lazer to help you localize better but otherwise? Worthy investment?
Thanks in Advance.
Jon

I do think they are better than nothing, or a traditional electronic thermometer. Ironically, I have had one for over a year but have only recently started to use it. I've been using it several times a day. I maintain a collection of over 150 reptiles and amphibians, cross contamination is always a huge issue! Especially when it comes to aquatics, it is not always easy to disinfect a thermometer probe between testings. Another advantage to this unit, is being able to measure the animal itself. Basking turtles are easily disturbed, and it's not practical to measure the temperature of amphibians, keeping your distance from these two has its advantages. I do not find that I need a greater range (the RadioShack unit has a range of two feet), nor would a laser site help anymore. Those are more practical for dangerous machinery, or parts that are difficult to get to. Although I do not know what the accuracy range is, I find it to be acceptable.

Anybody with a large collection with sensitive animals should consider getting a noncontact infrared thermometer.
click here for the link

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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

The only problem is that they're not horribly accurate (according to the instruction manual), but if you take a couple readings you can get a very decent idea, within a degree. I use mine a lot.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?