My ball python likes the cool side too much! bad? my mistake?

[southwind]

He used to be in the warm side when I had only one hide when I got a second (smaller one) to test out the size and make sure he could fit in it because the original hide I have probably could fit 2 or 3 of him inside!

Then he went to the smaller one on the cool side ALL the time, so I switched the smaller to the warm side and the bigger to the cool side.

Thing is now he is STILL on the cool side even though it has a bigger hide now!

I know I'm Supposed to have 2 of the same hide will be getting another small possibly, just worried if its too small.

he barely fits inside and the first time he went in it he pushed it up, I can see his side through the entrance of the smaller hide, PICS!

My temps are different on the heat gun vs the thermometers,

Heat gun: Hot side outside of hide = 86, hot side under hide = 85, Cool side = 79-80 in front of hide.

Thermometers: Hot side = 89.4 quarter up the tank, 88 under hot side hide, Cool side is 82 quarter way up the tank.

I use wet/damp towels to keep the heat and humidity in as well as a wet sponge inside under the heat lamp. its about 50% at low - 60%

[kitedemon]

Typically snakes will spend about 80% of the time on the cool side. This is closely linked to ambient air temps which look like yours are fairly warm. That would also make sense for the behaviour of the snake. If you have control over them try dropping them a couple of degrees.