I posted this under General, then found the Husbandry board and thought maybe it's more appropriate to post here. If you already responded on General, please accept my apologies for the double post and thank you for your help! Here's what I posted over there:

Hi everyone, I'm a new BP "mom". I know that my set-up is not ideal, but would like some suggestions on how to make it better.

I have Kashmire (a baby BP) in a 20 gallon tall tank with a screen top with clamps. I have a towel over the cool side to help keep heat from escaping and a basking lamp (50 watt) on the warm side with an under tank heater on that side as well (Exo Terra Heat Wave) for a 20 gallon tank. He has a hide on both sides and a ceramic water dish in the middle.

I plan to get a digital thermometer this weekend, but right now I'm using those Exo Terra Dial therms and Hygrometer. I have the therms on each side about 1/2 way up the tank (which I now know should probably be lower to get more accurate temp reading closer to the bottom of the tank). With them half way up the tank, I know my temps are reading too low and not sure what I can do to improve his temps. The humidity is staying around 65 to 70 and the temp on cool side right around 75 and warm side around 80 to 85.

I use coconut bark substrate.

So, having to work with what I have, what are MUSTS that I need to get to improve temps for Kashmire? I read someone actually took aluminum foil shiny side down to cover 3/4 of their screen top and taped it on and helped them. Or get some sort of lucite (I think that's what I read) from Home Depot and get someone who has a jigsaw to drill a few holes for circulation and then cut out a hole for the basking light to help keep in heat. They set this over the screen top.

What brand of themometer should I get? Where can I get it? Isn't there a digital combo therm/hygrometer? Is 50 watt enough for the basking light for increasing temps?

Eventually I want to purchase from Animal Plastics, but for the time being have to work with what I have. Any and all suggestions are gratefully accepted!

Robin