I don't keep digital thermometers inside of my cages 24 hours a day 7 days a week ... never did.

What I do is randomly take "samples" of cage temps a couple of times a week, month, etc.

For example, I'll clear the high/low temps and then put the unit in the cage for 24 hours with the thermometer say by the cool side hide and maybe with the probe inside the warm side hide. I'll check and record the temps several times and also check the high/low that was recorded overnight while I slept. If the temps are not "dialed in" I'll make adjustments and repeat ... if the temps are good to go in those spots, I'll clear the high/low again and move the unit and the probe to two different spots and keep going until I've gotten most of the cage covered and everything is just right.

After a couple of weeks, I might repeat the process, just to be sure ... and again every so often or when there are drastic changes in the weather to make sure the heating elements are keeping up with changes in household temps.

Once a cage is dialed in, it should be good to go and there really shouldn't be a need to keep the thermometer in the cage constantly.

-adam