Hello! I'm a new BP owner, and I was looking for some input and advice on a heating concern I have. Sorry if I end up a little wordy and excessive with detail, I just want people to have accurate information and context.

I use an Exo-Terra heat mat on one side of my cage which usually lets my ambient temperature remain around 80. Sometimes it falls a few degrees under. Not dramatically, only to 77. I have foil on the top of my cage to keep heat and humidity in due to it being a screen. My humidity is fine, it's a stable 50 - 55% as long as I keep an eye on it and add mist if needed. I'm careful to not overdo it and he's not in shed (he did a full shed a week before I got him).

My terrarium is glass and my bedding is aspen. I've been feeling the area where the heat mat is to make sure that it isn't too hot and that my BP won't overheat in the bedding or if it somehow digs down towards the glass. I'm actually a little concerned that it's not enough, especially with the ambient temperature dropping a few degrees every now and then. Aspen doesn't seem to be very conductive. With the temperature/humidity checker I have, it can be a little hard to gauge the cool, ambient, and hot side. I think I'm going to buy more checkers.

I guess my issue is that I'm trying to find that good middle ground. Is there a significant threat that my BP could burn on the glass if it digs down? It's warm but not scorching, and the aspen around it absorbs some of the heat. Because of that though, I don't know if my hot side is hot enough. I've seen conflicting opinions on the usage of lamps versus heat mats, and I don't want to get a lamp if he needs belly heat and I definitely don't want to bake my snake. I've seen people say heat lamps are fine, while others say that belly heat is better and that BPs are nocturnal anyways. Don't want him to be cold either, though.

For clarification and to ease worries, I haven't had him very long. Only a few days, so he hasn't been suffering (I hope) if my temperatures are a little off. I have money, the pet store is only minutes away so if I do need something I can get it ASAP. He's been switching sides from cool to warm, I have hides on both sides, so I think there is a difference in temperature that has him moving. He's also been moving around the cage in general and has been curious (he's 3 months old and was handled almost every day of his life, so he's very used to being handled and I was told he "loves" it. I think this helps him not be stressed by the change, he's not been tense or defensive at all and the previous owner said he has never stricken before).

It might be a little early to tell if my temperatures (and humidity possibly) is off enough that it's hurting his health, but I'd rather correct and figure it out NOW instead of a month or two down the line when he gets sick.

A few other questions I have:

- The tap water vs treated water vs bottled water debate. What do you personally suggest? The tap water in my town isn't very chemical-y and I drink it all the time, which I've seen people say "if you drink it then it's usually safe" but then others say "there's chemicals in tap water that'll hurt a reptile that won't hurt you". I wouldn't mind treating water or buying it bottled if need be, but I want other people's input.

- How can you tell when their neck is in an S shape to strike or if it's just moving/looking at something?

- If he's very loose and moving around the cage instead of balled up under his hides for hours, does that mean he's adjusting well and not stressed? To me he doesn't seem stressed, but since I'm a new owner, I don't want to make assumptions. He was balled up, tense, and hiding his head when he first got here, which is understandable and typical, but now he's no longer doing it. He's not frightened or skittish by movement near him or outside his cage.

- Lighting. Does there need to be a day and night cycle? I have a light that doesn't generate heat that can provide lighting, but I read that bright light can disturb them and that a cycle isn't necessary anyways.