Ok, so here's where I'm at so far. Substrate has been added, warm hide, (empty) water dish, and the heat has been running for the day. They weren't kidding when they said cypress mulch holds humidity. It went from 97% down to 81%, which I'm actually happy since I've heard it can get TOO humid for a BP as well.



A few things I wonder. Sometimes the warm hide spikes up to 94°F with the thermostat set to 91°...I bumped the thermostat down to 90° to compensate. The probe is still right up against the glass like it was on the dry run, very lightly surrounded by substrate. I'm guessing the hide is helping hold the heat in? I just don't want it to get TOO hot. Meanwhile ambient at the cool side probe is currently 82°...not sure if that's too warm or not. It didn't seem warm enough at first so I lowered the heat lamp a bit closer, but now it seems too hot @.@ This is why I'm glad I'm doing a test run.

Also, something I noticed while handling the mulch...it's quite, umm, pokey? Like, if you run your hand over it when it's loose and hit a certain piece the wrong way, it feels bluntly sharp? Seems fine now that it's laying flat, but should I be concerned, or is this kind of mulch normally like that sometimes? This is the commercial bulk stuff after all, and while I know some people have used it, I'm starting to wonder if I should. Granted, I seem to find a lot of wood-based substrate rather pokey and hard on my hands, even shredded aspen (which is fine for my corn)...maybe it's just my hands being too sensitive? I just don't want my future noodle getting hurt. From the pic though, how does the mulch look too y'all?

Anyways, as always, any feedback is appreciated. Once the details are worked out at this level, it'll be time to finish decorating!