Heating question (do i raise the heat?)

I am keeping my ball python in a tub now with a heat mat underneath connected to a thermostat and even though i set my thermostat to heat the mat to 97 degrees my thermometer in the tub is still reading like there is no heat mat underneath the tub (80 degrees). Idk if plastic tubs plus aspen substrate just prevent heat really well or what but i am kind of nervous to bring my heat mat to a really high temperature to create a normal temp hot spot in the tub because idk if that will eventually just become way too hot or not. It seems like having a thermostat wuld be almost pointless then because it is going to keep the heat mat at a really high temperature. Idk, i just don't want to burn my snake. What do you guys set your thermostat for in order to get a hot spot in your plastic tubs?

The temperature has to be measured under the aspen, not on top of it. Have you done that?

yeah it still is the same.

I didn't know that tho so at least im learning lol

This is why temp guns are so important. Your thermometer is prob not reading right . I wouldn't set it above 95. Mine is set at 92 and I get a 89-90 on all of my tubs WITH A TEMP GUN my probed thermometer says 85.

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yeah it seemed strange to me that it would only read 80. I was starting to think it might be the thermometer.

Where is your thermostat probe and where are you reading your temperatures? Also what are you using to read temperatures?