For my ball python set ups, I always had two identical hides, one on the cool side and one on the hot side. For my hot side I had the temperature stay at 90- 95 degrees, and my cool side stay at 85- 80 degrees. As for humidity, I always kept it at 50- 60%. I used the expandable substrate eco-dirt because it held humidity great, although, the coconut husk substrate is just about the same, just a little more expensive and you don't have to expand it. I did use a red bulb during the day to keep the air temperature a little higher, but I had a timer to run it from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. so at night it was just the under the tank heat mats.