Temperature readings go CRAZY when snake is coiled up on the probe.

[hungba]

How I solved this problem was to put ONE thermometer probe inside an EMPTY tub, over the heat mat and under the hide, and use that as my reference point. If the temperature in there is right, I know it's right in the tubs WITH snakes.

It doesn't even have to be a big tub, on one shelf with really tight quarters, I put the probe in a small tupperware container with a lid, and used that as my guide. I still check with a heat gun every now and then, what I do is pick a tub with a snake who's already out and about, and I aim the gun through the hide door, if it's within 3 degrees or so of the probe reading in the empty tub, I don't worry about it. Once you have your thermostat set, checking it once or twice a week should be sufficient.

Gale

Thanks GALE for the very helpful reply! May I ask the following?

1) You said you measure with the heat gun aiming through the hide door to see if it is within 3 degrees of the temp shown by the probe in the empty tub. Is the "empty" tub just substrate? Or is there a hide in there water bowl etc. with no snake? If so, is the probe there in a hide?

2) I presume the empty tub is somewhere on the middle levels of the rack to get an average?

3) When you measure with the heat gun, do you pull out the tub only slightly and aim diagonally inside? I find that when I pull the tub out, the temp on the thermometer drops almost immediately. I would presume any reading from the heat gun would also be low.

4) Would you mind doing me a favor? Can you look to see if the temperature on your inhabited tubs is very different INSIDE the hide on the hot end, vs. OUTSIDE the hide on the hot end? What are those temps? What is concerning me is that the temperature is VERY different when there is a hide in that particular tub.