Hello,
Two weeks ago I bought a banana ball python from my local reptile store. He already ate last Friday and I think he is starting his shed (his eyes are getting a little cloudy). For his cage I have a hide on one side of the tank with a heat pad under it and a heat lamp over it. On the other side I have a branch (bought from reptile place not a random branch outside) and a water bowl. The lamp and heat pad are both on a thermostat. Should I be taking the temps (and putting the thermostat probe) of his cage under his hide or outside his hide?
The humidity in his cage I try to keep at 50% although most of the time I have trouble keeping the humidity that high because the heat lamp sucks it all up. Should I keep the heat lamp on the same side but move it to the bottom of the side (not directly on top of his hide) and put his water bowl directly under the heat lamp or keep it where it is and just periodically spray the cage with water (what I've been doing)?

Thanks!