Bearded dragons are reptiles that live in semi-desert areas, which are hot and dry in Australia. And of course they are thermoplastics like most reptiles, they can change their body temperature according to the environment temperature.
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded animals, so they are deeply affected by environmental temperatures. The heat from the sun directly affects the bearded dragon\’s body, which also absorbs heat through thermal conductors such as rocks or sand.
When living in captivity, temperature is also an important determinant of bearded dragon health. Therefore, a bearded dragon tank thermometer is essential. Thermometer will help you maintain the temperature at the most reasonable with bearded dragons. This article will help you find the best bearded dragon thermometer, maintain the best health for your pet.
Top 5 Best Bearded Dragons Thermometers
#1 Exo Terra Thermometer, Celsius and Fahrenheit
This is a very easy to use product and can help you monitor the tank temperature most clearly. If you are looking for a baby bearded dragon thermometer then this is the product for you.
This thermometer can display both temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius, so you do not need to calculate to convert temperatures anymore. Moreover, it is also very easy to install with just a few simple steps. You do not need to spend hours researching the manual.
This Exo Terra thermometer comes with a sticky pad on the back, this pad works quite well and can stick the thermometer firmly on the tank for a long time.
Talking about longevity, this design is confident to accompany you for a few years. It works without batteries so it is very durable and also saves you some money. The thermometer is quite light but strong enough and it is also quite accurate when reading the temperature.
However, this thermometer does not have a reset button so you cannot set other parameters. But with just a few dollars for a durable thermometer, this is still a good investment.
#2 Zoo Med Digital Thermometer
Zoo Med products always occupy a certain position in the market today, and we certainly cannot ignore this bearded dragon digital thermometer of the brand. Zoo Med Digital Thermometer is a good quality product at an affordable price.
This thermometer is a bearded dragon thermometer with probe. The probe is 39 inches long, allowing it to accurately read temperature in all types of reptile enclosures. And above all, it allows reading the temperature in the water and will certainly work well when checking the bath temperature.
This product has a digital LCD screen, even without the light, but bearded dragon owners can still read the temperature easily. It can read temperatures between 10 degrees F and 140 degrees F, and of course you can convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
This thermometer is battery-operated and has a fairly long service life. It is also very user friendly, easy to install and easy to use. However, you should be careful when bearded dragon ate thermometer, because these thermometers are quite small so they can have such behavior.
#3 Zoo Med Reptile Temp Digital Infrared Thermometer
Another Zoo Med product definitely doesn\’t disappoint. This bearded dragon ir thermometer can measure the temperature of any area in the bearded dragon tank with the push of a button. It can be said that this thermometer is extremely high accuracy and very easy to use.
With a large temperature measurement range, from -28 degrees F to 230 degrees F, this design confidently offers the best user experience. In just a split second, you can check the temperature of any place you want, no longer having to wait for the thermometer to start and produce results after a while.
This product is battery operated and it is also very durable to use. You can also easily replace the battery when it no longer works, and you can also easily find Lithium cell batter at many stores and online shopping sites.
One unfortunate minus point for this product is that it does not have a display light or laser to let you know exactly where it is reading the temperature. And the product also doesn\’t have clear instructions, which can make it difficult for many bearded dragon owners.
#4 OMEM Digital Reptile Thermometer
OMEM Digital Reptile Thermometer is a product combining thermometer and hygrometer, two indispensable devices in bearded dragon\’s captivity. And this is also a budget option for a bearded dragon thermometer and humidity.
This product has an extremely simple design, small digital LCD screen but displays the temperature and humidity in a clear and easy to read. The device displays the humidity in the middle and the temperature (slightly smaller) at the top.
The temperature range this device can measure is from -122 degrees F to 158 degrees F, which is quite large compared to a device with a simple design. And it can measure humidity from 10% to 99%, displayed very clearly on the LCD screen.
However, this device does not come with accessories to fix it with the enclosure, so that you may have to use double-sided tape to fix it. And you also need to use something to click on the hole in the back when you want to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
#5 Etekcity Lasergrip 774 Non-contact Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer
When it comes to infrared thermometers, it is definitely not to be missed Etekcity Lasergrip. This is a company specializing in providing high quality infrared temperature, is trusted by many customers and always receives positive reviews.
This thermometer is a multi-purpose thermometer, in addition to measuring the thermometer in the living space of a bearded dragon, you can also use it for other purposes. For example, you can measure the temperature of food, measure the temperature of the room or even the temperature of a person.
Designed with many special functions, you can get a low battery signal or the thermometer can turn off automatically when not in use. If you accidentally forget to turn off the thermometer after using it, the thermometer will work, helping to save battery and extend the service life.
More specifically, this thermometer has a very large temperature range, from -58 degrees F to 716 degrees F. This is a large range of temperatures that not many thermometers can measure.
It can also measure temperatures at a distance, about 36 cm, but still give accurate results. A laser device lets you know the area or object you want to measure the temperature clearly.
However, this device runs on a fairly expensive 9 volt battery, so each time you want to replace a new battery, it will cost quite a bit. And this 9 volt battery also has a fairly short lifespan.
Where should we put a dragon thermometer?
Bearded dragon thermometer placement has always been a common question for beginners. Because reptiles are very sensitive to temperature, the location of the thermometer should also be taken into account. This may seem like an easy task, but it really needs more attention than you think.
If the bearded dragon thermometer location is too high, it cannot accurately measure the temperature below the tank – where the bearded dragon is resting. But if you put the thermometer too low, the temperature above – the place where the bearded dragon climbs will not be measured correctly.
Obviously you should need at least two thermometers in the terrarium. There are two options for you to choose, which is to set the thermometer in elevation and set the thermometer according to the temperature.
You can distribute the thermometer according to the height of the tank. As we mentioned above, place a thermometer to measure the temperature at the bottom, close to the substrate. The remaining thermometer should be placed above, close to the bearded dragon\’s vents and climbing accessories.
The second option is to place the thermometer on the hot and cool side. It sounds strange but this is a method used by many experienced bearded dragon owners.
You should place a thermometer in the area with the highest temperature in the tank, usually the pet\’s basking area. The temperature in this area should be maintained at 95 degrees F to 110 degrees F. This is a safe threshold for bearded dragons.
The remaining thermometer should be placed in the coolest area of the terrarium. This place should be maintained at 85 degrees F. This will be a bearded dragon getaway or its shelter after basking. Remember bearded dragons are thermoplastic, so the temperature is very important for its health and operation.
What features should a good bearded dragon thermometer have?
You will probably be overwhelmed with the number of bearded dragon thermometers currently on the market. Diverse products in both designs and designs can make it difficult to make your choices.
However, there are always certain common criteria for you to assess what is a good bearded dragon thermometer. The following are the features you should consider to be able to choose a good product.
#1 Accuracy
For a thermometer, no feature is more important than accuracy. Only a difference of 5 degrees will also negatively affect the health of bearded dragons.
Do not think that all thermometers can read the temperature correctly, some actually do not work properly and produce quite large temperature differences.
When you search for a bearded dragon thermometer by yourself, beware of attractive offers. Instead, you should refer to the review of previous customers, or can learn the specifications carefully.
#2 Species
Bearded dragon thermometers are classified into several categories based on many criteria, but the most common is still classified by temperature reading method.
There are 3 common types of thermometers that you should be familiar with so you can distinguish them easily.
#1 Infrared
This is the most advanced reading method and can say is the most accurate. You can get temperature readings in a short period of time (if not too short).
However, this type of thermometer is quite expensive and is not an investment that you can decide in a snap.
#2 Probe
Perhaps by reading the name you can already imagine this type of thermometer. It has a probe that allows reading the temperature in a certain area, including underwater. This thermometer can read the temperature quite accurately in a short time. And this is also a budget option.
#3 Ambient
This type of thermometer is easy to use and quite durable. It is usually located in the area where the temperature is to be measured, which can be fixed or moved without affecting the readability of the temperature. However, you will need to wait a bit to get results from this type of thermometer.
#2 Reliability
While most bearded dragon thermometers are affordable, and even some are fairly cheap, you certainly won\’t want to invest multiple times in an item.
Reliability is the factor that you should consider when choosing a thermometer. A durable thermometer will be able to work well under constantly changing temperature conditions.
Non-battery thermometers will have better durability than used thermometers, but they are not as accurate.
#3 Temperature switch
All thermometers read Fahrenheit temperatures, but not all bearded dragon owners are accustomed to reading this unit of temperature. Therefore, a thermometer that can convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius is a factor that you should consider.
#4 Energy sources
Most thermometers are battery powered, some are solar powered, but not as common. So you should also pay attention to the energy source that the thermometer uses.
Find out how long the thermometer\’s battery can last and what kind of battery it is. If the battery is too expensive, replacing it will threaten your wallet. And many such replacements will increase the price of the thermometer many times.
Conclusion
A thermometer is an indispensable device for bearded dragons and it is also a device that you should learn carefully before deciding to invest. Currently, on the market there are many types of bearded dragon thermometers, so you need to consider carefully before making a choice. Hopefully, with the information we provide above, you can choose for yourself the best bearded dragon.