Thermostat temperature probe placement

[bigsnakegirl785]

The thermostat probe isn't meant to read temperatures, it's meant to control the heat source, and as such it must always remain on or near the heat source. You must use a temp gun or thermometer to monitor temps, and set the thermostat accordingly. The temperature on the thermostat probe may not read the same as your thermometer/temp gun, but the temperature on the box must be set so that the temp gun or thermometer reads the correct temperature at the peak of performance.

If you are using a UTH or flex watt, the probe must be outside the enclosure in between the pad or tape and the bottom of the enclosure. Hot spot temps can only be read with a temp gun, and any temperatures should be read underneath any bedding not on top of the bedding. They can and will burrow under the bedding or push it aside to get closer to the heat if needed, but could overheat doing this if you are heating the top of the bedding to desired temps. When using ambient heaters such as RHPs or CHEs, the probe should be inside the enclosure directly under the heater as close to the bedding as you can while also keeping it out of reach of any hides or the snake itself. Regular thermometers can be used here to measure the ambient temperatures, and then you set the thermostat accordingly.

Rainbow boas are sensitive to high temperatures, so I would not allow the ambients to get above 78-83F and a hot spot of 84-86F. 90F is a little higher than I'd feel comfortable providing. At the very most I'd have only a hot spot that warm, but the boa should be able to escape the heat easily, and only if the ambients are not too high. Rainbow boas are susceptible to high temperatures, especially as babies, and ambients that are allowed to get too high could result in regurgitation, neurological damage, or death. I do think they should be kept a little warmer than normally advised for proper digestion, but they do still like it cooler than most species. If you keep their bedding damp, that provides them a natural cool spot, but during hot summer months you may need to use an A/C unit or a cold pool to keep them cool.