All rights reserved | Reptiles are ectothermic, which means they regulate their body heat by using external sources like the sun. Because of this, you need to carefully control and monitor the temperatures in the reptile cage you’ve set up. This is true for lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises. Sure, different reptiles have different temperature requirements. But every reptile cage needs some degree of heat. In this article, I’ll talk about the various ways you can measure and monitor temperatures in a reptile’s habitat. There are several products you can use with your reptile cages to measure temps. Here’s an overview of the different types of thermometers and temperature products available. So which thermometer device is best for you? My advice is to use more than one. You can always benefit from having multiple thermometers on your reptile cage, and here’s why: All of my Vision cages (like the one shown below) have a thermometer strip at each end.

But I also “shoot” the cage temperatures a couple times a week using a temperature gun. This gives me more exact readings throughout the cage, while also validating what the thermometer strips are telling me. Lastly, I have a digital thermometer mounted on the wall in my snake room to keep track of the room temperature and humidity as well. Image notes: Here’s a picture of one of my Vision cages. You can see the heat lamp glowing on the far-left side. You can also see the digital thermometer sitting on top, which is measuring the temps outside and inside this reptile cage environment. There’s a thermometer strip placed on the far-right side as well. There is never any mystery about the temps within the reptile cage shown above. The heat is controlled by a rheostat (described below), and the temperature is easy to monitor. This is what you need to strive for, regardless of what kind of reptile you’re keeping. So you can see that I have several ways to keep track of my room temperatures and cage temperatures.

Thermometers are relatively inexpensive, so I recommend using more than one product. After all, if you only have one thermometer, how will you know if it’s accurate or not? By having multiple units, you can validate the readings of any one unit. Truth be told, I actually shoot my cage temps with two temperature guns at the same time, like a cowboy with twin six-shooters. That’s how adamant I am about validating temperature readings. If my two temp guns give me wildly different readings, I know that one of the devices is not working properly. I could then compare the temp gun readings to the thermometer strips, or to a third temperature gun, to find out which unit needs to be thrown away. Why do I care so much about temps? Because it’s one of the most important aspects of reptile care. If your pet’s cage is too cold or too warm, its health will begin to deteriorate. Quick Tip: Proper temperatures are essential to your reptile’s health. So don’t get complacent and forget to keep track of your temps.

Check them daily, even if it’s just a quick look inside the cage at your thermometer strips. And do a more thorough sampling about once a week to validate the quick readings.So that explains how to measure cage temperatures. But how do you control them? How do you “tweak” the output from your heating device to get the exact temperatures you want? tropical fish for sale uk ebayYou can do this by using a rheostat, and that’s our next topic of discussion.fish tank vacuum python Depending on the type of heating device you select, you may need to use a rheostat as well. best ro system for fish tankThis will give you a greater degree of control over your heating device, which allows you to get the reptile cage just where you want it.aqua one aquarium heater 300w

A rheostat is a device that allows you to control the amount of electricity flowing to your heat device, thereby controlling the amount of heat output. It’s basically the same thing as the dimmer switch on a lamp or light fixture — they both limit the amount of electricity that reaches the device. To use a rheostat, you simply plug it into a wall outlet near your reptile’s habitat. acrylic fish tank uk pricesThen you plug the heating device into the rheostat and dial it up or down, as needed. aqua one aquarium maintenanceTurning the rheostat down will reduce the heat output from the heating device, thereby lowering the temperature. Turning the rheostat up will increase the heat output. You can see the benefit this has, as far as controlling your reptile cage temps. How do you know if you need a rheostat?

Just plug your heating device directly into a wall outlet, let it warm up to full power, and measure the temperatures in the cage. If it’s too hot for the particular species you are keeping, then you should use a rheostat to reduce the heat output. On the other hand, if the temperature inside the cage is too low with the device on full power, then the heating device may not be strong enough for the size / type of reptile cage you have. In this case, you will need to get a larger device with higher wattage to properly heat the cage. Like I said, it will take some trial and error to get it just right. That’s why you should spend some time experimenting with your cage setup and temperatures before you bring an animal home. Play around with it. Try different heating devices. Measure the temperatures during the day and night. Think of it as a full-dress rehearsal before the actual show. Quick Tip: It’s usually easier to control temperatures inside a plastic cage that is enclosed all the way around (with only a small gap for airflow).