What is Your Opinions on Where You Put Your UTH Thermostat Probe?

[Cheesenugget]

I did the same thing you did. Snake peed on it, never dislodged it, and I disagreed with a lot of people on this forum. I understand the whole setting high temps but the actual reading is still low. I get it; it is unnerving I also received lots of advice from snake keepers who bred, sold and kept snakes for decades, who told me that placing a probe outside the tank makes no sense.
I get it.

Then I realized I was dead wrong. Maybe all those experienced keepers who believed the same thing too, but I was wrong. My ball python managed to dislodge the probe. Temps were read at mid-90's when I found the mistake. Fortunately I was paranoid and manually checked temps every day at the time. I immediately moved the probe in between the UTH and the tub. Had to play with the t-stat to get the temps I needed, but it worked. I eventually got a Herpstat which allowed me relax a little easier, although I still check temps.

My ball python also did not use the heat spot a lot, but that does not mean he won't.

So you might be thinking, oh what if it was not dislodged? Then it's ok, right? The answer is a big NO. On the same day with what happened with my ball python and starting moving the probe out on all my snakes' tanks, 1 of the them was reading the wrong temp. It was still stuck inside the tank, it was not peed or moved. However, I believe the aspen got stuck under and around the probe, so it gave a false reading, causing the UTH to increase heat. It was supposed to be 88F and it read close to 100F. I immediately unplugged to t-stat, fixed the probe and triple check the temps until everything is back to what it should be. Luckily, the snake did not get burned, probably because my Children python spent the majority of the time up on his log.

This happened about a year ago or so, can't remember exactly when but I do know I never had that issue again. Also having Herpstat or a reliable thermostat installed helps too.

I was wrong, I am so sorry for doubting anyone who tried to help me. I was lucky both snakes are fine, but it was simply luck and a blessing who saved them. It may seem people here are harsh. They meant it with good intentions. I'm telling you from my mistake, I had no idea anything was wrong and unless you are constantly checking temps, there will be a time when the reading is off and you can only hope to be there to fix it before it is too late.

P.S. Herpstat can sound an alarm and all, but it takes time while your snake continue to sit in the spot where it will get burned. And not all models carry that alarm system I think. But I still don't want to downplay how important it is to have a good thermostat as well as placing the probe outside the tank.