Wow, I just assumed the thermostat probe went inside the enclosure to give the reading that the snake would actually feel laying on the substrate. So the probe just monitors the heat of the mat, gotcha, I feel like an idiot.

Now, with the thermometer, I should mount the unit in the middle of the tank and run THAT probe into the snakes hide? You said to tape it to the floor of the tank. Should I tape the cord and allow the probe to sit on the substrate or actually tape the probe to the floor and have it covered with substrate.

Thanks for the help fellas, much appreciated.
~Jason