Providing proper temperatures for your reptile or amphibian is one of the key components of husbandry. All species require certain temperatures, or a range of temperatures, to complete basic bodily functions including digesting food and defecating. Accurately reading and adjusting the temperatures as needed in your animal's enclosure, as well as the ambient room temperature, is crucial to keeping your pet healthy. A reliable thermometer is a must have for every reptile/amphibian owner whether you have one or thousands.
It is recommended to check the temps inside your animals' enclosures at least once a week to ensure they are within the proper range. If you live in an area with seasonal changes in temperatures it is better to check the temps a little more often than once a week during fluxes and adjust heat bulbs, lights, and UTHs as necessary.
It is recommended to check the temps inside your animals' enclosures at least once a week to ensure they are within the proper range. If you live in an area with seasonal changes in temperatures it is better to check the temps a little more often than once a week during fluxes and adjust heat bulbs, lights, and UTHs as necessary.
types of thermometers
Digital Thermometer with Probe
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Thermometer/Hygrometer
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Temp Gun
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Determining which thermometer is right for you depends on a number of factors including your price range, the spot or spots you need to measure, and how often you want to check the readings. It's often best to have at least two thermometers, preferably different kinds, to compare the readings and affirm accuracy.
Forum thread on beardeddragon.org written by forum member Claudiusx about the difference between dial and digital thermometers and how inaccurate dial thermometers are.
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How to Use a Temp Gun
A step by step guide with pictures on how to use a generic temp gun to determine the temperatures in your animal's enclosure. |
risks associated with improper temps
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Uro in recovery from a serious burn due to lighting being too close and too hot.
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hygrometers
Measuring the humidity of your animal's enclosure is also crucial to their well-being. Just like temperatures, different species of reptiles and amphibians require different humidity levels to stay healthy. Some species, such as crested geckos, need higher levels of humidity as their natural environment is tropical and species like uromastyx should be kept in much lower ranges of humidity. Hygrometers should be used on a regular basis to check the humidity levels especially at different times of the day/night and when seasons change.
types of hygrometers
Digital Hygrometer with Probe
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Thermometer/Hygrometer
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Similar to thermometers, dial hygrometers tend to not accurately measure humidity levels so it is better to invest in one of the options above to truly capture the correct percentage.
risks associated with improper humidity levels
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A bearded dragon with an advanced RI
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