Queston regarding ambient air temp

I have a baby female ball python in a 20 gallon tank. In the tank I have a kritters brand round thermomer on the hot side but I also use a digital thermometer with a probe suspendig from a branch about 1-2 inches off the ground.

The ambient air temp from the digital thermometer shows the warm side around 88-91 degrees but the round thermometer stuck on the glass often is much higher, at around 95+ degrees.

Which reading do I follow to ensure the tank is at a proper heat?

Those dial thermometers are crap. Do yourself a favor and throw it in the trash. It's important to know both ambient temps, and temps directly on the glass. You can get a temperature gun to check surface temps inexpensively here: http://www.tempgun.com/main.html

Yep the analog gauges (and at some stage as a whole I am sure we've triied them all) were always "optimistic" by right about 10++ degrees. And measure the temp at or as close to the ground/floor of the enclosure as you can, especially if you heat via UTH.

In addition to heat, and especially when using tankswith screen covers you need to know and monitor humidity levels as well - it can get arid in a hurry this time of year especially with indoor heat sources blasting away.

that sites awesome check out this quote

CARE:
Keep the PE-1 dry; if it gets wet, wipe it immediately. Use and store the PE-1 only in normal environments. Handle the PE-1 carefully, do not drop it, especially into an active volcano. Don’t place it on the railroad tracks in the hopes of turning it into a temperature measuring “flattened penny”. Keep the PE-1 away from dust and dirt. The lens should be kept clean at all times, care should be taken when cleaning the lens using only a soft cloth or cotton swab with water or medical alcohol, allowing the lens to fully dry before using the Temp Gun. Stay cool.

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ok well assuming my digital thermomter is accuratly giving my an ambient air temp of 89 degrees (Which is it right now) on the hot side, is it safe to assume I am not overheating my tank, even though the more innacurate dial thermomters may be showing a higher temp directly on the glass?



EDIT- I just placed the probe directly on the basking surface and found the temp to be way too high. (100) No worries though as my snake is currently chilling on the cool side of the tank.

So now Im stuck trying to figure out how to keep the ambient air temp warm enough while still not cooking her on the bottom of my tanks surface.

Do you have a thermostat on your heater? If not you need to get one. Ambient temps can be helped with a space heater placed in the room the snake is in. Tanks are harder to heat than tubs too.