Thermometers

[white_feather]

I have two thermometers in the same enclosure. One is the long thin stick on type and it reads 84 degrees. The other one is the round gauge type and it reads 80 degrees. They are in practically the same spot. How can I tell which one is accurate?

 

[equuskat]

The way cooks calibrate thermometers is to put it in a cup of ice water in which there is more ice than water, and it has been sitting long enough to have the water as cold as it'll get. Put the thermometer in without it touching the sides and it should read 32F or 0C or 273.15K.

Not that 4 degrees really matters in a tarantula enclosure, though. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[binary71]

you will not be able to calibrate your thermometers this way. The ones that cooks use have a metal probe that you can stick in the ice. The best way to get accurate temps, imo, is to use a non contact temp gun. You can get instant temps from all over your cage to get a better idea of the temperature variance. You can get these from pro exotics. They have them for like $25 plus shipping. Great tool to have

 

[ph0bia]

The long thin stick on type meaning the ones that are like a black rectangle and the temperature squares 'light up'? ...For want of better terminology...

They're not very accurate at all.

The round guage type (a la Exoterra) are far more accurate. If all else fails, do you have a medical thermometer? Stick it between the two for 5 minutes and you'll soon see which is more accurate.

Next question, why do you have two in the same enclosure, right next to each other?

 

[bamato]

I'd like to agree with Binary on his non contact thermometer. However, the cheaper ones that are in the dollar range he suggested are no more accurate than the two you have. They usually have a % of variance and at that price the variances are fairly high. So they are most likely inaccurate by 5-8 degrees. I'd suggest buying one more in the 70-100$ range if you want really spot on temps. Granted they have variances as well, but they are far smaller.

 

[equuskat]

Basically, my point is, unless you have someting really fragile, it's just not that important.

4 degrees is basically nothing in the grand scheme of keeping tarantulas.

 

[ph0bia]

It can be, if that 4 degrees is 4 degrees above a max temperature.

ie, a B.Auratum at 82 degrees naturally is pretty warm, but at 86, the poor thing is roasting.

 

[equuskat]

The Ts are usually kept in an environment that is shared with people. If the temperature is 4 degrees higher than where a human is comfortable, then the human will adjust the temperature. I still stand by what I say - 4 degrees in a t room, especially in the mere 80s, is a very small concern.

 

[ph0bia]

True enough, but many people choose to add heat-mats to the side of their enclosures too... That starts to cause an issue.

If your room is naturally 70 F, say, then P.Murinus will be happy, but the B.Auratum next to it will be a little colder than she'd like. This is as it is in my room, and I have a desk-lamp pointed at the B.Auratum. Because I have to move the desklamp from time-to-time I keep a close eye on the temp in there. From it's minimum range to maximum range the lamp alters the enclosures temperature from 78 degrees right up to 90 degrees. If the therm is 4 degrees off, it could read as 84 degrees, which isn't too bad, but could in theory thereby be 88, which is VERY bad.

 

[white_feather]

I put both in the same container to see if there wawas a variance between the two. I want to get the more accurate one.

 

[equuskat]

True enough, but many people choose to add heat-mats to the side of their enclosures too... That starts to cause an issue.

If your room is naturally 70 F, say, then P.Murinus will be happy, but the B.Auratum next to it will be a little colder than she'd like. This is as it is in my room, and I have a desk-lamp pointed at the B.Auratum. Because I have to move the desklamp from time-to-time I keep a close eye on the temp in there. From it's minimum range to maximum range the lamp alters the enclosures temperature from 78 degrees right up to 90 degrees. If the therm is 4 degrees off, it could read as 84 degrees, which isn't too bad, but could in theory thereby be 88, which is VERY bad.

 

[binary71]

I'd like to agree with Binary on his non contact thermometer. However, the cheaper ones that are in the dollar range he suggested are no more accurate than the two you have. They usually have a % of variance and at that price the variances are fairly high. So they are most likely inaccurate by 5-8 degrees. I'd suggest buying one more in the 70-100$ range if you want really spot on temps. Granted they have variances as well, but they are far smaller.

not trying to be argumentative but the specs for the $25 temp gun and the $100 temp gun are the same as far as temp variance goes. The main difference is the options and size of LCD readout. here is a link to the specs. Many reptiles breeders use these

http://www.tempgun.com/specs.html

 

[Nerri1029]

ONE WORD OF ADVICE to those thining about using the infrared type/ non contact thermometers.

When aiming at a clear surface /or especially smooth surface getting accurate readings can be tricky.

aim at the substrate with nothing in between is my advice.

I bought one ( a really nice one ) for work to measure the temp of cooling agar, and found out the hard way that glass causes problems with this type of thermometer.


As for the Ice Bath method mentioned before.. I say use that.

As for most round dial type thermo's sold in pet stores? I would trust them at all. Here's why... look at the lot of them in the display at the store. How many are reading the same?? if they are all really close then maybe.

 

[ph0bia]

As for most round dial type thermo's sold in pet stores? I would trust them at all. Here's why... look at the lot of them in the display at the store. How many are reading the same?? if they are all really close then maybe.

All of mine are ExoTerra round ones like that. Just grabbed my thermometer from the medicine cabinet and poked it in most of them (I'd rather not disturb my P.Chordata at the moment -.- ) and they were all pretty bang on, give or take 0.5 degrees.

In the store they're also in packaging which severely screws the readings. Head to a chemist and look at any of the strip ones they have on sale there. Same issue.

Strangely enough we had this conversation with my Physics lecturer last year when discussing accuracy of thermometers for use in our experiments and someone asked why the ones in the store were always different. His response was to do with air pockets when they're packaged and how those not only effect the temperature (by ~2 degree variation) but also physically move the dial.

*shrug*

My two pence.

 

[Windchaser]

The Ts are usually kept in an environment that is shared with people. If the temperature is 4 degrees higher than where a human is comfortable, then the human will adjust the temperature. I still stand by what I say - 4 degrees in a t room, especially in the mere 80s, is a very small concern.

i tend to agree with Katy. In all honesty a few degrees one way or the other is not going to significantly affect your tarantulas. I don't bother with any thermometers. All of my tarantulas seem to do quite nicely experiencing the same basic temperatures as I do in my house. Tarantulas are much hardier than most people give them credit for.

 

[equuskat]

Exactly. I keep a reptile thermometer in my CAR just for giggles on really hot/cold days. There is not a thermometer even in my room. My room has gotten into the mid-80s, and it has bottomed out in the high 50s. Never have I had a mysterious death. I really don't think that the temp + or - 4 degrees is anything to worry about at all. As long as avics aren't freezing and nothing's cooking, then it's all good.

 

[Arachtis]

I'm another person who doesn't mess with thermometers or humidity gauges. As long as the substrate is moist, and the air inside of my house is around 70 degrees, then I am good to go! any T that can't handle those broad requirements will simply not find it's way into my collection. If I need a little warmth here or there, then a space heater or red bulb will do.

 

[ph0bia]

Meh, I believe in replication to the most minute detail possible. Personal preference if not a necessity ^_^

 

[Windchaser]

Meh, I believe in replication to the most minute detail possible. Personal preference if not a necessity ^_^

This is virtually impossible to do in a home environment. In addition there is very little information regarding the conditions inside the burrow or tarantula's home so strictly using the conditions of their home country is far from accurate. For instance, the burrow of a tarantula in Arizona could easily be 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the air temperature. so, do you keep your A. chalcodes at 90 to 100 degrees which is the air temperature in Arizona during the summer or do you keep them at the more likely temperature of their burrow which would probably be in the 60s? Given the virtual impossibility of replicating multiple complex environments in your home I see no problem with keeping them under the same conditions that I live in.

 

[Nerri1029]

Can't agree more.

as for thermometers .. get one for the room, get one for a shelf or somewhere near them, but to have one inside a tank is unnecessary. IMO

Not sure the brand of thermo's I saw at PetSmart, but I'd not buy one ever.

Then again I use $150 merc filled thermometers with 0.1*C marks on them regularly.