Are thermostat and thermometer numbers supposed to match?

Basically what the title says. I kind of assumed they were, but mine are not.

Right now my thermostat is at 81 and the probe is on the hot side, but my thermometer is reading 87.8 degrees on the hot side.

Also, they don't seem to be constant, the thermostat stays at a constant number unless I change it but the thermometer will fluctuate within a couple of degrees from one hour to the next.

These pics were taken at different times, but this is the thermostat and thermometer that I have...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/...16db15.jpg?v=0

(this is from before the snake even came home but it shows the thermometer)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3297/...72fd61.jpg?v=0

If they are supposed to match I'd really appreciate any advice on how to remedy this situation, thanks! :)

i had the same question. i went w/ thermometer reading. my herpstat reads 87.4 while my acurite reads 94

I'm going with thermostat too right now because it's higher and I don't want to burn him...

get a temp gun and find out what one is right.

if the probes are side by side they should read the same but if they are diff spots you could just have two diff temps. but if they in the same spot then i would do as mike said and find which is right

The readings are not supposed to be the same. I believe that even the manufacturers of the thermostats say it. You're supposed to set your thermostat at whatever temperature so that your thermometer reaches the desired temperature.

As for the thermostat just showing one number, I believe (?) the Helixes just show what the thermostat is set at, not what the probe is currently measuring.

Hope this helped,

Thank for your help, but it turns out I figured it out on my own.

I decided to check the probe because I thought maybe it was just too far away from the thermometer probe, so I picked up the hide and the thermostat probe was sticking up through the bedding! No wonder it was reading so low! :rolleye2:

I taped it next to the other probe and voila, perfectly synced. :w00t:Imagine that, lol.

I also wanted to say that normally I would have checked earlier but it's my snake's first week home and I'm trying to keep handling and disturbances to a minimum.

Hi,

Please don't use tape inside the enclosure - unless it is the really low sticky stuff like painters tape. :please:


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Please don't use tape inside the enclosure - unless it is the really low sticky stuff like painters tape. :please:


dr del

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I do have painter's tape, I'll switch them out, thanks :)

Out of curiosity, why shouldn't there be tape in the cage?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Racquet

I do have painter's tape, I'll switch them out, thanks :)

Out of curiosity, why shouldn't there be tape in the cage?

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When snakes get is loose it can get stuck on them which can be a nightmare to remove, both for the snake and the keeper.