Does Aspen raise/retain heat?

[Nate]

So like i said in a previous post, I stuck the thermometer probe to the bottom of a tub. Today, i put the aspen over the probe. A few hours later i checked the temps and my thermometer read 95 on the hot side

without the aspen, my hot side was reading a very constant ~91-92

Humidity is up to 62% after adding a water bowl too...so it's time to put some holes in.