yes its normal to have your tstat set higher. i have personally put the prob in the tank and outside. its always better to be safe with your snakes and just leave it outside. but i wont lie to you like people on here it is just fine being inside the chances that the snake will move it are slim and the snake moving it far enough to throw the readings off enough to get the tank way to hot are even slimer. but then again you wear a seat belt in a car because of the what ifs.... same concept here. my probs are on the out side and recommend that. just bump the tstat up till it reads good on the in door thermometer.