Quote Originally Posted by BPGuy View Post
After my T8 working great for spring, summer, and fall, I've discovered that the Flexwatt is not keeping the cage warm enough during the winter. As a result, I have purchased some radiant heat panels from Pro Products. The heat panels arrived yesterday, and I'm hoping to have the opportunity to install them this weekend. Before I do, though, I have one question: Where and how do you recommend I install the Herpstat probe?

Right now, I have the T8 set up with a divided in the middle. A 12" strip of Flexwatt runs in the center of the T8, with the Herpstat probe sandwiched between the Flexwatt and the T8. Based on my conversation with Bob at Pro Products, I plan on discontinuing use of the Flexwatt and run only the two RHPs (I'll mount one panel on each side of the divider). I'm going to try to operate both RHPs off the same outlet on the Herpstat. I realize this isn't ideal, but Bob indicated that I should be fine doing this. However, we didn't talk about where exactly in the cage I would mount the Herpstat probe or how I would mount it.

Where do you recommend I mount the Herpstat probe? I'm guessing I should mount it right next to the divider, but I'm not sure where I should mount it in terms of the front-to-back of the cage and whether I should mount it on the floor of the cage, the ceiling of the cage, or in the middle (heightwise) of the divider. Also, how do you fasten/mount the probe? I've had problems with rats eating through the Accurite probe cord and don't want them to eat through the Herpstat probe. I've purchased a very small diameter (1/4" or so) PVC pipe and was going to run the Accurite probe and cord in the pipe. What about doing the same with the Herpstat probe?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions/advice.
First off when would a rat have a chance to chew through a cord inside your snakes cage? A live rodent shouldn't ever be left in a cage long enough for that to happen. Live rodents shouldn't be left unattended with a snake for any reason. I've seen too many snakes be killed by unattended rats already.

As for probe placement you have a few options. I personally don't recommend using a single thermostat for more than one heat source, but it can be done. You are going to have to carefully monitor your temps as there won't be anything to prevent disaster on the RHP that isn't being directly monitored by a thermostat.

You want your probe to be placed to that it is centered on the lens of the RHP:



1. You can use hot glue to attach it directly to the lens
2. You can suspend the probe so that it is hanging under the lens
3. You can use hot glue to attach the probe to the bottom of the cage directly under the lens.