As far telling how hot it is without a thermometer thats kinda hard. Assuming our body temps are 98.6 if you touched the hotspot is shouldn't feel hot but slightly warm.

Do you have to house snakes in this rack right now? If not I would just sit tight until the temp gun came in.[/QUOTE]

Yes I have 3 in it now and and it is just warm and considering my body temp it is probably good cause I didn't think of my body temp being over so it might be ok then. So I should completely cover the probe with tape before taping it to the heat tape?