Ceramic heat emitter?

My current setup, is a ceramic heat emitter on the cool side, UTH on the warm side, repti-therm heater attached to the side of the tank(on the warm side), an accurite thermo w/probe and a fluker's thermo/humidity gauge for ambient temps, and a cheap crappy thermostat (zoo med reptitemp). The other day when I was cleaning my BP's aquarium, I happened to place the accurite temperature gauge where the cool hide usually sits (not the probe and yes, directly under the ceramic heat emitter). I noticed when I set it back to where it usually sits in the tank (back left corner), the cool side temp read 85 degrees.
I didn't realize that there would be such a drastic difference in a couple of inches. My temps normally read 80 on the cool and anywhere form 90-92 on the warm. My question is, is this too warm for the cool side? If so, how should I accurately measure my temps on the cool side? Is 85 on the cool really too warm?

There SHOULD be a temp gradient of about 10 degrees.... that being said, most young BPs (up to about a year to a year and a half) can be kept in a tad smaller gradient. A hot BP is a hungry BP.... so the warmer you keep your ambients and the cool side, the faster he'll digest.

If you can get the hot side up to 92-94, then the 85 cool side temp shouldn't be much of a problem.

Hope this helps...