Trouble with Heat Mat

[Kaorte]

Both of my thermometers are Zoo Med Analog Reptile Thermometers, the one on the hot side is placed right at the base and the one on the cool side about 3 inches above the substrate. The probe is directly stuck on the heat mat. The heat mat is a habistat 11 x 11 and the thermostat is a habistat mat-stat.

I've even tried sticking one of the thermometers right on the mat and the highest reading I am getting is 88.

I'm using an aspen substrate about 1 inch thick with newspaper under it, but only a single sheet.

My digital camera has a completely dead battery (the last time I used it was like ... December) and needs to charge up before I can get pictures, but I'll try to post some later if the information I provided doesn't immediately flag up problems!

Thanks guys!

I'm sorry you had to buy those analog thermometers, because they are garbage. Go out and buy yourself either two digital thermometers that have probes or you can pickup the accurite weather station. You can buy it from walmart or the home depot (not sure if they still sell it). It is a really basic unit but it is all you need. It measures outdoor temp with a probe, indoor temp at the unit, and indoor humidity at the unit. For the money (about $12) it is well worth it.

I am willing to guess that by the time you get a good digital thermometer you will get much different readings.

For now I would turn your habistat down, just incase it is too hot.

I assume by probe you mean the one to the thermostat? If so, then you got the placement right.