Hello,

I have a 36 x 18 x 18 exo terra cage for my ball python with an under tank heat made for 50-60 gallons on one side. I also have a thermostat to control the temp just right for the warm side. I have it set to 90 degrees, but my snake seems to favor the cool side even more. He's active and eats every 6 or 7 days when I see he's very curious. Warm side ambient air temp is usually 81, cool side 77 and the humidity stays about 62 on the cool side and 50 on the warm side. I had glass cut to fit the cool side to lay on the screens to keep it in more.

My questions is that I have the probe for the thermostat under his warm right on top of the substrate because I want to make sure the substrate is the temp that is set for the thermo. The thermostat probe is water resistant, not water proof and I also check the temps with a temp gun. The temps stay right at 90 or 91. I know a lot of people say to adhere the probe to the bottom of the heat pad, but I just dont see how that will get the substrate the right temp for the snake to be on. My substrate is about 4 inches thick of Herptopia coconut bedding.

Just wondering why he might not like the warm side so much? Maybe he hangs out in there when I'm away at work or not watching him while I sleep.

Other than that he is fine, eating, gaining weight shedding and going to the bathroom.

Some tank pics: