Hey everyone! Quick question....

Equipment

- 30 Gallon glass tank
- 30-40 Gallon ZooMed UTH
- Vivarium Electronics VE-200 Thermostat
- Fluker's Combo Thermometer/Hygrometer for monitoring ambient temperature set on cool side
- ZooMed Reptitemp digital infrared thermometer
- Aspen substrate with Coconut husk strewn in here and there
- Corner ziggurat hide for basking
- Fake leaves and a small hollow wood log for temporary "cool side" hide (I'm actually in the process of receiving his permanent "Temple of Doom" in the mail soon )

Issue

The VE-200 seems to be a decent product. I layed the probe directly above the UTH inside the tank and everything seems in order. As such, the numbers on the VE-200 would be reading the temperature on the glass only, right?

If I put .5"-.74" of substrate on top of the probe, the temp on top of the substrate would naturally be lower than what I set at the thermostat, correct? (eg., Thermostat set to 100. Probe reads 100. Glass is 100. Substrate is 95.)

My issue is that the infrared thermometer (Zoo Med's Reptitemp....is this even a good product? I have doubts.) is giving me readings of 89, 87, 84, 97, etc. when I go to verify the temp on the substrate where the snake will actually lay. This makes sense in a way, I suppose, due to uneven heat penetration of the substrate, but the inaccuracy and difference in readings between the infrared thermometer and the thermostat is a significant weak link and everything then falls apart because I am not confident in the temperature of the basking area. Is it too hot when I set it to 100? Is it too cold when I set it to 95? How much buffer is needed to account for heat absorption and penetration through the substrate? Furthermore, I know there is always the danger of the snake burrowing until it touches the glass and burns itself.

If there is any insight on this matter, I'd totally appreciate it...

Thanks everyone!

P.S. First time post. I've been reading quite a few threads in the forum and there is a ton of knowledge here. Awesome community and I'm glad to be a part of it.