I'm getting my first ball python on Tuesday and I am just getting temperature, humidity and other things correct beforehand. My question is about my hot side. I have a Zoo Med UTH and a hydrofarm thermostat. The thermostat probe is positioned where the UTH is set and the heat mat is over it stuck on the bottom. Inside the tank I have an Exo-Terra digital thermometer/hygrometer with a probe. The probe is positioned directly above the thermostat probe under the hide. I have the thermostat set to 93F and it works fine. My question is about the thermometer. It reads around 85-86F while the thermostat reads 93F constantly. I have roughly 1 inch of aspen and it feels warm but it may be good. I just want some reassurance that my temperatures are good. My cool side fluctuates from 76-82F and the humidity goes from 40-55% depending on time of day.

I also have one other question. I was going to get some sphagnum moss to put in the corner of the tank for humidity but none of the pet stores around here carry it. The gardening centers have moss called Sphagnum Peat Moss. Would that moss be fine to use in my snakes tank?

Thanks!