Ball Phython won't us warm hide !

Recently I got a ball phython who's main heat source was a heat lamp. I recently switched from a heat bulb to a heat mat. And lately hasn't gone into his warm hide he has been spending all his time in the cold side. He just ate yesterday and still doesn't seem to go into his warm side. He is active at night so I don't know if he goes to his warm side at night. Could it be because I switched him to a heat mat? The warm side has a heat mat that's about 90 degrees F and he cold side has an ambient tempature of 75 to 77 degress F

Please se let me know
Thank you !

If both hides are identical and the hot side is not too hot then it's just a preference.

Now if the hides are not identical and he is using one over the other it could be because one makes him feel more secure than the other.

I concur with Deborah, it is almost ridiculous how obsessed ball pythons can be with their hides. They will even suffer off temps, in order to feel secure in their hides. That is probably the strangest thing about them that they need proper caves for security in order to survive. Since they are easy prey for many predators, this makes sense.

For sure about the type of hides you use. I just finally got two new hides and before I did he would prefer the tighter fitting one on the cold side. Now he is 50/50 unless he uses the cold hide as a toilet then he won't use it until I clean it out the next morning.

Do you have a thermostat for your heat source? It could be way too hot on the warm side if it is not regulated. That could be why he is not going over there..