Improvements for the Beep

[wolftrap]

So! Four weeks into ownership of Kira the BP, I've noticed some things that definitely need to be addressed, and I need some help validating these things and my solutions, and/or coming up with better solutions.

She is a great eater; I have not weighed her, but she has taken all four meals that I've offered (the first was live because her breeder had her on live, then for the last three she effortlessly switched to F/T, all fuzzies). She is currently housed in a 10-gallon tank with a screen lid, heated with a UTH with a thermometer connected to it; the heat gradient was always hot 88 - cold 80, with a 50-70% humidity because it's rainy in Texas. Two hides, one on the cold side, one on the hot side, pretty much exactly the same size. Her water is always clean, and I keep it over the UTH so that the tank has increased humidity. She has not shed yet, nor has she even been in "blue"; I suspect it's because she shed in the days before the reptile show but that's not proven. I handle her very little; I have handled her twice since 48 hours after her last meal, for about five minutes. So, a few things...

1) The UTH's thermometer was reading 80F on the hot side yesterday. I plan on changing this by purchasing some 1/2" foam insulation board and covering the two sides and back of the tank to better hold heat, and give her a more secure environment. I might also decrease the amount of aspen substrate that I have in her tank, and change it from 2" to 1".

2) She roams very intensely. Whenever I see her, she is cruising the enclosure, climbing the sides, generally unrested. I think this is because her husbandry is off, or she's hungry. As well as changing up the enclosure and bringing it up to 88/90F on the hot side, as detailed in the first step, I'm going to graduate her to the next largest size of rat; right now she's on fuzzies, so the next would be hoppers right?

3) I am going to change her enclosure very soon, to a 38"x18"x12" tank that opens in the front, because I don't like reaching downwards for her. I plan on using coconut fiber substrate, upgrading her heating/heat gradient situation, giving her two hides, and giving her lots of plants to help her feel concealed. However, should I focus on making her happy in this tank before I give her a new one? Or do you guys think that the change would be a welcome one?

thanks in advance for your help!