temperature accuracy

[el chamino]

We are currently using a Zilla digital therm/hygrometer, but I am going to get an infrared gun for better accuracy. Several people here have said a $20 dollar gun will work fine, but as I have been looking, even $50+ guns are +/- 4F accurate. This seems a little extreme to me. I was hoping to get recommendations on the guns people are using, and thoughts on how accurate temps need to be.

Here is the little guy we're caring for:

 

[Remkon]

I'd not worry to much about accuracy...

Your chameleon will not spontaniously combust if the temp is little below or over the reccomended temp in the caresheets.

I got a 7$ ir meater, actually i got 2 cheap ones and one more expencive. Only reason I got the more expencive one is becsuse it was given to me.

 

[jamest0o0]

This^ I check temps when I set cages up and then just watch the ambient... As long as it's not dangerously hot I leave it be.

 

[Graves923]

I have a cheap $15 IR gun from home depot that works well enough. As long as it is reading within the recommended temp ranges for you chameleon, the animal will be fine. I usually only check the basking temps after I change the bulb and monthly when doing cage maintenance. I find that as some incandescent bulbs age, they put out less heat. I usually see the temp drop after 6+ months if the bulb doesn't burn out before then.