Ball Python moving around.

So I finally have my ball python and have had him for about going on 3 weeks now. I went with getting him from a breeder and couldn't be happier. He's healthy and hasn't struck at me once. He was eating live but has eaten F/T with me without a problem. He was hesitant at first but now doesn't even think twice. Most of it is all thanks to this page. I had no idea on how to setup an enclosure till I joined this group so I thank y'all! I do have one question though. Before I had my snake in cardboard hide I cut out and he loved them. Until he peed and the cardboard soaked all of it up... lol. So now I got two hides that was rock. it seems like he spends more time in the cooler side hide. Before he was always on the warmer side hide with the UTH. You think there is a reason? When I feed him he will still spend the day in the warmer side but will then go back to the cooler side? The cooler side is at 80-81 degrees. The warmer side is at around 90.

Glad things are going smoothly for you and your beep!

Maybe the change of hide? The rock material may hold on to the warmth more than the cardboard. Maybe he's thermo-regulating more? I've only had my beep for about 3 months, though it sounds like normal behavior, in my newbie opinion ;).

I've heard that, if the hides are different, they can be known to like one hide more than the other (feeling more secure or comfortable etc.) so will spend more time in their 'favourite'. Maybe swap the hides around and see if he goes back to the same one that's now on the warm side.
Also as Quahog said, the rock would insulate better than cardboard, so maybe it's now much warmer inside the hide so he needs to get out to thermo regulate more.

Y'all were right! I moved the hides around just to see what he would do and sure enough he followed the hide. It is a smaller hide than the other one so I guess he does feel more secure in it. I think I'll take the bigger one out and replace it with one closer to the smaller size.