Reptile & Amphibian Forums

get a couple of digital thermometers for my corn's tank. I use a uth and was wondering if the thermometer would give an accurate reading on the warm side. I'm under the impression that a uth heats the bottom of the tank, but not so much the air above it (at least not to 83 degrees). So does a thermometer even do any good with a uth? Right now I have those fish tank thermometers, but I'd like something more precise.

An uth will slowly heat the air. It does nothing at all if you have a screen lid. As long as you have a closed lid, it should read well. Also, never use those stick on, fish tank thermometers. They measure the temp of the glass not the air. get a digital one preferably one with a hygrometer. They are only about $9 at wal-mart and knowing exactly how warm your tank is will be worth it!
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
0.0.1 Butter Corn "Butters" (South Park)
1.0 Redtail "Kilo"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"

Yeah, I got two fish tank thermometers and realized that there was an 8 degree descrepancy between them when they were at the same temperature. Alarming, that.

One option is a heat gun. You'd be actively measuring, instead of glancing in the cage, but it's a fun little tool to play with. It measures surface temps, of anything you want. So, if you want to check the hot spots, cool spots, make sure a mouse is properly warmed up, or even cook, they're fun. I forget the exact brand of mine, but it says tempgun.com printed on the front of it.
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0.1 chickens (Condor)
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave, Lucy & Amy)
0.1 Halflinger horse (Crissy)
0.1 Normal phase California Kingsnake (Sophia)
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human

tempgun.com are the temp guns sold by Pro Exotics.
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PHLdyPayne

Get an ESU Reptile digital thermometer with probe. The Coralife ones are the same thing. Just make sure that the tip of the probe comes into contact with the surface directly above your uth.

Awesome, thanks for all your guys' help! Iknew I could count on you.