Newbie with a newbie heating problem - HELP!!

I am getting my first ball python on Friday. I have been setting up the tank and everything looks nice, but I am having a problem with heating. It's around 72 degrees in my house. My new baby is 1 month old and I will be putting him in a 10 gallon tank with a screen lid. I put a towel over the lid to see if it helps with the heat, but it's not doing much. The hot side atm is 87 and the cold side is 73. I do have an appropriate sized uth (zoo med brand) on the hot side and I bought a thermostat for it. I am heading to the store tomorrow to look for a heat lamp with a red bulb as a backup source, I just need to know what watts to look for. I could really use the suggestions! Also, I have a zoo med digital thermometer for each side of the tank. My question is: Where do you place them? I've read in the hides on the surface of the substrate, as well as burying the probe. Which one would give me a more accurate heat signature? Is there a way to set up the UTH and the lamp so it won't overheat my new snake? Thank you for reading, sorry it's so long!

Hi,

Check out the glass tank sticky. :)

In cold room I also insulate the bottom, back and sides of the tank with either cork sheeting or polystyrene.

I also tend to use a high rated bulb then dim it down with a rheostat as they last longer that way. ;)

Try and get the temps right inside their hides as that is where they will probably spend most of their time once they have settled in.

Hope that helps a bit.

Thank you. Your answer was very helpful. I enjoyed your sticky post too.