Originally Posted by Annarose15
The thermoSTAT probe should be between the glass and the UTH (outside the cage). If your UTH is stuck to the bottom and you can't wedge the probe between them, then you can also use aluminum tape to attach it directly to the underside of the UTH. The thermoMETER probe should be hot-glued on top of the glass inside the tank, directly over the UTH. You then adjust the thermostat setting based on the thermometer's reading. As you already said, what is important is the temp of the glass where your snake can come in contact with it, even if that means the UTH is actually set higher than the hot spot temp (lost heat when going through the glass, air, etc.). Placing your probes like this allows you to monitor the temp of the glass without the risk of your BP knocking the thermostat probe loose and the UTH overheating. I'm glad your little one is okay.
I agree this is a great way to set things up as long as the room is reasonably stable. I don't have many of my snakes in a stable temp room. I have a ten degree shift in room temp nigh to day this time of year it is more than that... With the set up you are describing my hot spots also varied by ten degrees or more. That is FAR FAR too much I found and as is recommended by Dion Brewington the Herpstat designer that a probe in the enclosure allowed the tstat to adjust to the variable room temp and prevent the gain and loss associated with an in direct probe placement. The way you are describing works fine for some but some like me see 80-100º hot spot temps in a 24 hour period, and I am sure you will agree that that is unsafe.
With the modern hi tek systems out there today there is no logical reason why not to place the probe interior. There are safe non toxic glue systems that well done are strong and immobile. There are protections against over and under temp alarms and if people follow my advise a failsafe that caps the interior temp.
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