Keeping your box turtle within his preferred temperature range is important to his health. The simplest way to monitor temperatures is with an in-habitat thermometer that’s easy to read at a glance.
The Zoo Med Analog Reptile Thermometer is an inexpensive way to do just that. You can even place two or three along one wall to make sure your heaters are creating a good temperature gradient for him.
Keep reading for more about this analog reptile thermometer:
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What it is Ease of Use Pros & Cons
. Places to Buy
What This Analog Thermometer Is
It’s a very basic analog thermometer that measures temperatures ranging from 20° F to 120° F (-6° to 49° C).
It has a round dial with white numbers and gradations on a black background. The needle is red.
It’s made with precision German movement for better accuracy. Even so, some reviewers said theirs was as much as 5 to 10 degrees off. We can’t say for sure if this is right, since we don’t know what they were using as comparison.
Many other reviewers said it was very accurate.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to check a thermometer’s accuracy, since even the best manufacturers sometimes make a defective one. Box turtles can tolerate a wider temperature range than some other reptiles, so an exact temperature is less critical for them. But it’s still important, so you’ll want to know how accurate your thermometer is.
Ease of Use and Durability
The Zoo Med Analog Thermometer is simple to use (we’re assuming you know how to read a thermometer! 🙂 )
And the contrasting white on black (with a red needle) is easy to see and read. The needle hovers over the gradations, instead of below them, which also helps you get a more accurate reading.
One complaint was that it can take 30 seconds or so for the needle to stop vibrating after the unit has been moved or bumped. This seems like a minor issue, but still is something to keep in mind.
It’s vented to prevent fogging in humid environments (like your box turtle habitat, we hope). So you can always see it clearly and feel confident you know the temperature.
It attaches to the habitat wall with Velcro, making it easy to remove when you’re cleaning.
Zoo Med’s warranty on this item is for 6 months.
Zoo Med Analog Thermometer Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Inexpensive enough to have two or three to ensure you have a good temperature gradient
- Easy to see the needles and numbers, making it easier to get an accurate reading
- Velcro backing for easy removal
- Vented to prevent fogging inside the unit
Cons:
- Needle takes time to stabilize if you bump the habitat
- Analog can be harder to read accurately than digital (although this one’s about as easy as it gets)
- Some units may be inaccurate
Places to Buy a Zoo Med Analog Reptile Thermometer
Here are links to a couple of sources for this thermometer at good prices: