I use the probe directly on the flexwatt, so my thermostats are all higher than the inside temps... usually set between 95-97 for the pythons & 85-90 for the colubrids, bringing their relative hot-spots to 90/82. Is there any difference in these techniques, or just personal preference? I assume the thermostat works just as hard either way, right?
Edit: I guess placing the probe inside would keep things more stable, but I'm too afraid of my snakes knocking it out of place - they constantly do that with their thermometer probes!