I am brand new to keeping snakes so minimal advice but I can say two things. One, I love my infrared thermometer for figuring out surface temps. Two, if I was a snake who had spent who knows how long in a cold tank and all of a sudden the temperatures where raised I probably would spend a couple days lounging in a tree. Think humans basking at the beach. So if your surface temps around the tank are good maybe the snake is just enjoying its new great home. And it obviously thinks hides are for wimps.