Infrared temperature guns

[cornbike]

I have my snake in a 10-gallon glass aquarium with a Repti-therm heating pad under one end. I've put a piece of cage carpet over the side of the tank with the heater so that he can't burrow down and burn himself. Then I have about an inch of Aspen substrate in there.

I'm using an infrared thermometer to measure temps (http://www.tempgun.com/order.html#pe1) The temperature of the warm side of the tank ranges anywhere from about 75 degrees to the high 90s, depending on where I position the thermometer. If I stick the thermometer right in the substrate just above the middle of the pad, that's the hottest spot. So there's not one consistent temperature anywhere on the warm side. The temperature a few inches above the substrate is in the low 70s, about the same as the temperature on the cool side.

So my question is - where should I be measuring the temperature on the warm side? I keep reading that the AMBIENT temperature should be about 80-85, but I'm finding the air temperature on the warm side is generally about the same as the cool side, except for the area JUST above the substrate, where the temperature varies quite a bit as I explained.

Let's put it this way - If I was to buy a thermostat to regulate the warm side to 85 degrees, where should I place the thermometer probe?

Thanks in advnace for any feedback...

 

[MegF.]

I would worry more about belly temp, than ambient air temp. Make sure you measure the temp with the hide in place, as the air in there above the uth will be fairly high. 90 is pretty high. You may want to get a rheostat to keep it in the low to mid 80's. I wouldn't worry overmuch about changes in temps too much. As long as it doesn't get excessively high, they tend to handle everything just fine. My snake room is relatively cool, and they spend most of their time on the cool side, even after eating, so they tolerate lower temps nicely.