Newbie PLEASE HELP before I end up killing a $1000 snake!

Quick question that might have already been addresses...
How much substrate do you have cover the bottom?

To much = a lot of humidity, more area to pass warm temps and waste of money.

If you want try a quick different approach. Paper towels...

Whatever you do though, you need to first, unstress yourself. If you keep changing things, peeking in and messing with the snake because you are stressed, you are going to stress the snake to death.

If you are using a set up some else had, it will work just find the minor tweaks!