Etekcity Lasergrip 774 Review: The $17 Tool That Prevents Burns
An Etekcity Lasergrip 774 review for reptile keepers: 12:1 distance to spot ratio, surface temperature accuracy, and why a temp gun does not replace a probe thermometer.
The cheapest instrument in a bearded dragon setup and the one you will use every day.
The verdict: An infrared thermometer reads the surface temperature of the basking platform in a second, which is the single number most likely to be wrong in a new setup. Buy it before almost anything else on the accessory list. Do not treat it as your only thermometer, because it reads surfaces and not air, and the cool end of the enclosure still needs a digital probe.
Etekcity Infrared Thermometer Laser Temperature Gun 774
~$17
A handheld infrared thermometer with a 12:1 distance to spot ratio, a backlit display and a range from minus 58F to 842F.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Type | Infrared surface thermometer |
|---|---|
| Range | Minus 58F to 842F, or minus 50C to 450C |
| Distance to spot | 12:1 |
| Recommended distance | Etekcity suggests roughly 14.17 inches for best results |
| Display | Large backlit LCD |
| Power | 2 AAA batteries, included |
| Reading | Average temperature of the circular area targeted |
Specifications above come from Etekcity's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- It measures the thing a dragon actually contacts. Basking surface temperature is what matters, and an air thermometer three inches away can be twenty degrees out.
- A 12:1 distance to spot ratio is tight enough to read a basking platform without also averaging in the substrate around it.
- One trigger pull, an instant reading, no probe to route. You will use it daily, which is why it is the instrument that actually gets used.
- It costs less than a bag of substrate, so there is no reason for any keeper to be guessing at temperatures.
- It is genuinely useful outside the enclosure, from cooking to finding draughts, which is more than most reptile gear manages.
Where it falls short
- It reads surfaces, not air. The cool end air temperature and the enclosure humidity still need a digital probe thermometer and a hygrometer.
- The reading is an average across a circular spot that grows with distance. Standing back and shooting a small platform gives you a blend of platform and substrate.
- Surface emissivity affects infrared readings, so shiny or reflective surfaces such as bare glass or foil read low. Point it at the basking rock or tile, not at the tank wall.
- It cannot tell you anything about UVB, which is the other parameter that silently harms dragons.
- The listing is written for kitchen and automotive use, so nothing in the documentation will help you interpret a reptile enclosure.
What owners report
The 774 has one of the longest track records of any budget infrared thermometer and reptile keepers use it in large numbers. Reports are consistent that it is accurate enough for husbandry work and that the batteries last. The complaints are about people expecting it to read air temperature, which no infrared thermometer does.
The practical value shows up immediately. Keepers who buy one commonly find their basking surface is not where they assumed, usually cooler, because the stick-on dial gauge on the glass was measuring the glass. Our temp gun versus probe thermometer comparison explains what each instrument is for, and the answer is that a complete setup has both.
What you are checking for is an adult basking surface of 95 to 110F, a cool end of 75 to 85F, and a night temperature of roughly 65 to 75F. Babies sit at the warmer end of the basking range. The temperature and UVB chart by age has the figures, and if a dragon is lethargic or not eating, temperatures are the first thing to check before anything else, followed by a reptile vet if the behaviour continues.
Who it suits
- Every bearded dragon keeper. This is the first instrument to buy.
- Anyone setting up a new enclosure who needs to position the basking platform by measurement rather than by eye.
- Keepers troubleshooting lethargy, poor appetite or slow digestion, where temperature is the first suspect.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants a single device that also reads air temperature and humidity, which this is not.
- Keepers who need UVB data, which requires a UV index meter.
- People who will point it at the glass rather than at the basking surface.
Alternatives worth considering
REPTIZOO Dimming Thermostat, PID Temperature Controller with Memory Function
~$28
Measuring a wrong basking temperature is only useful if you can correct it. A dimming thermostat on the basking lamp is the tool that holds the number where you want it.
Check price on AmazonSolarmeter Model 6.5R Reptile UV Index Meter
~$249
Temperature and UVB are the two parameters that quietly harm dragons. A temp gun covers the first; only a UV index meter covers the second, and it costs about fifteen times as much.
Check price on AmazonExo Terra Sun Glo Halogen Basking Spot Lamp
~$20
If the measured surface is too cool, the answer is usually a different wattage bulb or a different mounting height rather than more thermostat. Halogen spots are cheap enough to keep two wattages on hand.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Temp gun vs probe thermometer
- Bearded dragon temperature guide
- Temperature and UVB chart by age
- Why is my bearded dragon lethargic
- REPTIZOO dimming thermostat review
- Solarmeter 6.5R UV index meter review
- Best thermometers and hygrometers
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Editor's Pick ยท Affiliate link
A T5 10.0 UVB Fixture, the One Thing You Cannot Skip
Metabolic bone disease is the most common preventable illness in captive bearded dragons, and it comes down to inadequate UVB. A linear T5 tube across the basking side does what a coil bulb cannot, and the tube needs replacing roughly annually even when it still lights up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a temperature gun for a bearded dragon?
Yes. Basking surface temperature is the number most likely to be wrong in a new setup and the one that affects digestion, appetite and activity most directly. An infrared thermometer reads it in a second. At under twenty dollars there is no good reason to be estimating.
Can an infrared thermometer measure air temperature?
No. It reads the surface temperature of whatever it is pointed at. For the cool end you want a digital probe thermometer measuring air at the level the animal occupies, and a digital hygrometer for humidity. Stick-on dial gauges are not accurate enough for either job.
What temperature should the basking spot be?
For an adult bearded dragon, a basking surface of 95 to 110F. Babies are usually kept toward the top of that range. The cool end should sit around 75 to 85F so the animal has somewhere to go, and overnight can fall to roughly 65 to 75F. Measure the surface the dragon sits on, not the air above it.
Why does my reading change depending on where I stand?
Because the measured spot grows as you move back. At a 12:1 ratio, standing twelve inches away reads a one inch circle, and standing four feet away reads a four inch circle that probably includes substrate. Measure from roughly a foot away, aimed squarely at the basking surface.
My dragon is lethargic. Is it the temperature?
It is the first thing to check. A basking surface below the correct range slows digestion and activity, and cold dragons often stop eating. Verify the basking surface, the cool end and the UVB, and correct anything that is out. If behaviour does not improve, or there are other symptoms, see a reptile vet rather than continuing to adjust equipment.
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