I'm having a really hard time getting the temps to become stabilized. I'll try to explain the problem as best I can.

I have the Herpstat ND, which is a proportional tstat...If i have the tstat probe directly on the flexwatt, this reduces the risk of a snake moving the probe..Seems like the best option.

A few levels down, I've got my thermometer probe secured to the bottom of the tub for a second temp reading. Problem is, when I take that tub out to do maintainence, it is no longer over the flexwatt and loses heat. When i put it back in and the temp has dropped 5 or so degrees, the thermostat does not know that. It still reads from the tstat probe and is still fluctuating around 93 degrees. Now lets say I've put my tub back in, and the thermometer probe reads 85. the probe for the tstat is still reading 93, so it doesn't push any power to the flexwatt, and the tub i just did maintainence on will still remain at a low temperature.

Is it a good idea to put the thermometer probe and the tstat probe in the same enclosure? and, if you can spare the room, is it a good idea to place the thermostat probe inside an empty tub?

I had the most accurate and consistent reads when my tstat probe and thermometer probe were in the same tub. But i don't want to risk the snake moving the probe.

I hope this makes sence.