Thermometer placement?

[BluesBelly]

Hello!

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'm setting up my enclosure for a little Mexican Rosy Boa. This is my first snake, and I'm a little confused about temperature. I have a heating pad under the tank on one side.

My question is, where do I put my thermometer? Am I measuring for the correct temperature under the substrate? Above the substrate under the hide?

Again, sorry for such a dumb question, I just keep getting mixed answers from the snake owners I know!

Thank you!

[pdomensis]

Not a dumb question at all. Actually it's one of the most important questions and show's that you're thinking! First though you need to differentiate between thermometer or thermostat? You REALLY should use both, and not just the dial thermometers from petstores, a good digital one is much more accurate. I would also get a laser thermometer to get good readings of several different locations in the tank. Rosy experts should chime in about where to put the thermostat probe, but once you have the thermostat set, the thermometer becomes a backup so you can check temps at a glance and make sure everything is running smoothly.

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome to the forum. I agree that a thermometer and thermostat are both necessary. The thermostat is crucial to control your heat source. I use a temp gun so I can check any area in the tank. I usually place my digital thermometer on top of the substrate on the cool side and my thermostat probe sits on the glass underneath my warm side hide. Sometimes I have to adjust the temperature accordingly so the substrate surface reaches the desired level. Best wishes with your boa.