Hide issues

So my new adopted guy, Bahamut, is still going through treatments for his sickness (RI/Ecoli) and I got a new heating pad yesterday since the other one was a tad small. I have had a cardboard box for his hide since I got him, which he has been using no problem. Now, I put the new pad on the thermostat and get it all nice and taped down. I switch to using paper towels instead of Cypress for the time being, put his hide box back in, and now he wants nothing to do with it. He lays on top a little but did not go inside at all except to look around. The only thing I could think that would be the problem is that the box can move since it's on paper towels, so it doesn't feel as secure to him. I put some regular towels on either side to stop it from moving, but he's still just hanging out on the cold side or is constantly moving around. Any ideas? He is in a 20g long. Temp above heating pad is 92-94 and the cool side is 83-85. I'm keeping temps high and humidity on the lower end while dealing with his RI. Any ideas why all of a sudden he doesn't like his hide?

Just to double check, you've got the new heat pad on a thermostat, and you've checked the temps with a temp gun to make sure it's in the right range, correct? Second question: is the paper towel substrate a new thing? Third: have you checked the fit of the hide? it should be snug, the snake ideally will be touching all four sides when coiled up inside.

Yes to all lol. New pad, same tstat. Temp gunned it way more times than necessary, paper towels are new to him, and it's the same hide he's been using since Feb 10th.

Give him a little time to heal. Maybe he can breathe easier on top of the hide at this point. The new paper towel substrate is new to him also. Still acclimating to a new environment. Stay in peace and not pieces. :gj:

Also, since I noticed him this morning still not using his hide I covered up the front with a towel so now all sides are covered. Just in case he still feels insecure or anything

My thinking is that with the new substrate he's uncomfortable with using his hide for some reason. Maybe he was used to burrowing down into the substrate before, but now that he can't his hide isn't meeting his privacy/security needs by itself? Also, since it's cardboard and he's fighting an RI, I would double check that the hide doesn't have any mold/mildew spots. Plastic is a lot sturdier and longer lasting, and you can clean it when it gets soiled, unlike cardboard.

Well I'm doing another one of the f10 fog treatments right in so we will see if he goes I his hide tonight. The box it still clean from what I can tell but I have switched it out for another one.

If he is suffering from a RI they will sometimes prop their head up to breath easier so that's a possibility. Make sure he didn't have a bm under his hide. If my girl has a bm/urinates under any of her hides she will refuse to use it until I cleanup her mess lol

He did go the other day but it was cleaned up immediately. He isn't propping his head up at all. And for what's it's worth, from what I observe, he isn't stressed or freaking out, just isn't so jazzed up about his hide anymore lol

Maybe try a small round plastic hides we if that makes him use it lol