Why put the probe between mat and tub?

I see posts with put the probe between the mat and tub/tank. Why?

i jave always put the probe where the important parts are, i.e. inside the tank where the snakes actually are. The mat could be any temp, what matters is where the snakes are.

Caveat: my dart frog tanks had the probe between mat and tank. Solely bevause the little buggers can escape through the eye of a needle. Was a huge pain tweaking that all the time.

The reason is if you put it between the mat and cage, you will know what the floor temp is which is what you really want as you don't want it too hot since snakes burrow. You don't place it inside the tank because if the snake poops or pees on it, the liquid will give a false reading and can cause the thermostat to heat the mat which will result in a burn possibly. Also if the snake spills the water dish, it will do the same thing not to mention probes usually are not water proof so snake piss or water spilled on it can and probably will kill the probe. Also if the snake burrows and pushes the substrate or probe, you can get a false reading and you don't want to use tape inside the cage to secure it as tape+snake=disaster.

^^ what he said

and when you place the probe directly on the heat mat you just dial in the temps inside the tub. so your thermostat may be set at 95 degrees but inside the tub it may be 92 degrees. much safer for the animal inside.

what everyone else said my snake likes to push all the bedding out of his hides for some reason.. And if it was in there it would be pushed out with the bedding

and this is what a no contact thermometer is for.

Because the probe needs to be where it cannot be dislodged by the animal or cool down by liquid (pee or water dish being tipped over) - hence why it should be outsdide.

If the probe is inside and dislodge or cool down this will make the temperature shoot up which could lead to severe issues.


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Is there any guarantee that the temp outside ( under ) a glass viv is going to be the same as the temp inside the viv ( what really matters ) ?

See a couple post above.
You use a no contact to check the inside temperature under or below any substrate.

Glass conducts heat spectacularly, so any heat on that glass will get through trust me. As for plastic bins, they absorb a small amount of the heat, but you still get much the same effect. Also I agree with everyone else on the outside the cage argument or non contact thermometer, both can definitely work. Just had to put my two cents in on the glass subject.

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