So I got my girl’s new T8 (with ProProducts heat panel) and set it up three weeks ago, however I’m still really struggling with humidity and temperature gradients. I thought an AP tank would be easier - and perhaps it is once it’s dialed in - but it’s a struggle. I’ll add photos at the end of the post.

Humidity on the hot side is usually around 30% and I’ve been misting regularly to keep it up higher. The cool side is around 45% or so. The substrate is Zillow Jungle Mix which starts off moist but dries pretty quickly and doesn’t help. It seems like coconut husk is better for humidity? Is that the case? What should I try? I’m also going to get sphagnum moss to add around the tank, too, but I feel like a change in substrate is also probably needed. She DID just go through an entire shed cycle and gave me the most perfect shed I have ever gotten from her, however. But part of that may also be that for the first like week or a little more the substrate was still keeping the humidity correct. It’s become a problem since it dried out.

Temperature on the hot side is great. Stays right around 90. I use my heat gun too to check inside the hides to make sure the temperature in there is adequate and it’s around 87-88. However, the heat doesn’t get retained enough to keep the cool side warm enough. It can get to 75-77 which is no good! It’s summer here and I’ve been having to keep my room AC off (it faces my bed, not her tank) to keep my room warm enough that her cool side can stay the right temperature. And let me tell you it is a sauna in here and I am dying. Oregon doesn’t have house or apartment AC like anywhere and when it’s 80 or above outside it can be brutal inside. It’s going to be 102 this weekend. Kill me.

Her thermostat is set to 90 and keeps her hot side perfect, but what can I do for her cool side? Especially with a T8? I don’t know what to do but there has to be something I can do to fix this. Please help! Otherwise she seems very secure and ‘happy’ in her new set up. Shed perfectly. Appetite and eating is on point (didn’t feed during shed cycle but just fed her since then). She hides all day and at night I catch her going to drink water and move around. She loves weaving her way through the plants like a ninja. Handling her hasn’t changed and she doesn’t show any signs of being more on edge or insecure since her tank change when I go to get her or I clean her water and such.

Thank you so much in advance!