After doing more research, watching videos, getting advice on here, and talking to a few bp owners, I think I have a much improved set up.





I moved the thermostat probe to the inside of the tank on the glass underneath the reptile carpet over the center of the heating pad, that way the pad is now flush against the bottom of the tank. The thermostat probe is set at 102, but my infrared thermometer reads the pad 89-100 depending on whether the stat has it switched on or off. I've also noticed that the pad reads warmest in the center and decreases towards the edges. Are there better heating pads that heat their surface equally? Right now I have a small 8V that came with the tank starter kit. The glass underneath the substrate reads 95ish, and the substrate under the hot hide 89ish. I moved the thermometer probe to one of the hide entrances, the ambient temp in there is reading 83-86. The overall ambient temp ranges from 76-79 on the cool side and 80-83 on the warm side. This seems fine to me considering the hide provides a location for absorbing belly heat on the inside, and I have seen him basking on top of it for the bulb light. The bulb is a 50w nocturnal infrared heat lamp that I have on a dimmer and adjust if the ambient temperature becomes too high or low.

I really wanted to avoid having an overhead lamp at all since it dries out the air. But that doesn't seem possible for me since the UTH does not increase ambient air temperature and the tank is in my bedroom which I would say ranges from 70-75. So I got some New Zealand sphagnum moss. There's some inside the skull hide, and scattered around the cool side since that's the side with the ventilation opening over top. I plan on putting some in the hot hide also. I didn't want to disturb Orochimaru too much because he's in there digesting a mouse. I was so happy that he ate last night, it was my first time trying to feed him! I hope that means he's adjusting well and will be a good eater.

I decided to switch out the half log since a lot of people don't think it feels secure enough. That was where he spent most of his time, but I did notice that he would get in the defensive S shape if I was doing something with the tank, whereas in the tree stump he would only ball up or just turn his head away from me. We'll see how he likes the skull once he's done digesting the mouse I suppose.

The silk plants were added since I heard they help with humidity as well as helping the snake feel safe. It was one big 6 foot section, but I cut it into smaller sections that I don't think he will get tangled up in.

The water bowl is also larger to help with the humidity, and heavier so he can soak in it without tipping it over. You can see it better in this pic.


I also got some more clips and will leave the rock up there since Orochimaru figured out how to use suction cups for this.




It was pretty funny to see him poke his head down so he could see what I was doing.


I'm thinking he was roaming around because he was hungry. He was very eager for that mouse when I put it in the tank.

Super long post >.< Thanks to everyone who gave me advice, and hopefully others will learn through my trial and error.