Thermostat, Thermometer, and Laser Temp. Reader Issues

Rose23

New member
I am currently setting up my new vivarium for one of my female leopard geckos. I have two named Olive and Ren and they have been living in one 20 gallon long tank for over a year now. Though it recently came to my attention that I should house them separately. I have everything I need but I am having trouble regulating the UTH temperature. Im getting 3 different readings. I have the termostat set at 90F.
NOTICE: the temperature probe attached to the thermostat is resting flat on top of my reptile carpet, inside the hot hide. The UTH is mounted correctly to the outside bottom of the glass. The thermostat I use (https://www.amazon.com/iPower-40-10...ocphy=9007576&hvtargid=pla-314499111251&psc=1) is saying 89.9F.
The temperature probe (https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Digi...550802745&sr=1-4&keywords=zoo+med+thermometer) I have taped to the thermostat probe reads 87.1F. Lastly, my infrared laser gun (https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Las...50802792&sr=8-3&keywords=infrared+thermometer) reads it as 95.2F!! I don't know which one is accurate! I'd like to separate them by tomorrow (2/22) or on Sunday (2/24). I fear that I won't be able to if I can't get these temperatures correct and accurate! Any help is appreciated!
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
That message was supposed to say: "Do you really love this?"

I've deleted that post. GU was acting up big time! I could not post any message that made any sense. :(

That message (and others) was designed to let others know something was up.

Marty quickly stopped by and seemingly fixed everything. :biggrin:
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Lastly, my infrared laser gun (https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Lase...ed+thermometer) reads it as 95.2F!! I don't know which one is accurate! I'd like to separate them by tomorrow (2/22) or on Sunday (2/24). I fear that I won't be able to if I can't get these temperatures correct and accurate! Any help is appreciated!

Does it make any difference whether you hold the infrared laser gun up close to your target versus maybe 12 inches back from that same target?

Have the temp readings settled down at all?
 

Rose23

New member
Does it make any difference whether you hold the infrared laser gun up close to your target versus maybe 12 inches back from that same target?

Have the temp readings settled down at all?
I’ve been holding it about 14 inches away from my target per the instructions. They appear to have settle a bit this morning. All reading within 2 degrees of eachother. The infrared gun picks up multiple temperatures but what the thermostat probe is reading typically has been matching the infrared gun reading. When I move the laser around the whole area that the UTH covers it picks up different readings. Is this normal? For example the area the probe is in will say 86F and the infrared gun confirms that. But an inch away it reads 89F according to my infrared gun. I think the zoo med thermometer is the least accurate. Should I keep that taped to the thermostat probe or can I remove it as it’s creating a mess of wires near the hide? Thanks again!
 
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Geopard Lecko

New member
In my glass tank I tape the t-stat probe directly to the glass above the zoo med UTH then I have some paper towl for substrate and I put a zoo med digital thermometer probe on top of that, I also put a piece of foam over the probes and then rest the hide on top of that. I have the thermostat set to 94 but the top of the substrate is 92, after the thermostat shuts off it goes to 92.8-93.1 then settles at 89.5~ while the pad heats back up. Thats the best way I've found to get my desired temps in the glass tank. Hope this helps.
 
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