When controlling belly heat with a controller that has a probe, it is absolutely necessary to make sure the probe is held fast. The best place would be inside the cage over the heated area but the snakes will move it, so that is out.

You have options.

Option #1:
You allow some of the Flexwatt to extend from the cage bottom out so you can tape the probe onto the Flexwatt. This way you can see the probe at all times and make sure it is on the heater. There will be a slight difference in cage temp vs probe temp due to the outside air surrounding the probe, if the outside air is alot cooler than the air in the cage. But the difference is not a big issue at all.

Option #2:
You setup a second piece of Flexwatt (can be just a 1ft piece) and plug it into the same controller as the 4ft Flexwatt from the cage. Fix the probe onto the 1ft piece. Or alternatively, fix the probe to the bottom of a small plastic container sitting over the 1ft piece of Flexwatt to even better simulate what the cage bottom sees. Both pieces will be controlled.

Option #3:
If you have a spare cage, even a small one. Setup a piece of Flexwatt under that, and fix the probe inside the cage over the heated area. Plug this Flexwatt into the same controller as your cages housing animals. This is the most accurate way to control what is happening inside your real cages w/o having the probe in them for the reasons mentioned.

Option #4:
Elevate the cage so you can tape the probe on the Flexwatt under the cage. The problem with this method is that you cannot see if the probe has fallen off. I do not like this option. Go with 1, 2 or 3. Option 3 is the best if you can do it.

Good luck.
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Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia childreni

Mark G

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