ExoTerra type enclosures are really hard to work with for many common herp species including (I would assume; I use about a dozen of them but not for any snakes) BPs. They leak heat and moisture something terrible (which is actually good for some species). When the snake is ready for its adult sized enclosure, do consider a PVC enclosure like those from AP Cages. They're worth the cost and the wait time (order about 8 months before you'll need it), and only need one RHP for heat.
"My problem is that the CHE kicks on and the thermostat registers the temp near the Govee thermometer but the surface of the hide is several degrees hotter (at one point it was 94) but using my temp gun, the substrate temperature is much lower (77-82*)"
A couple things I notice. Not sure exactly how literally to take 'kicks on', but I'm of the opinion that only Herpstats (and possibly VE thermostats) are reliable and safety-featured enough to trust with animals. Either of those will have a proportional setting whereby the heat source won't kick on and off but rather will run at whatever power level keeps the temp set point. This isn't the source of your current worries, but I thought it worth mentioning, if not now for the future or for future readers of this thread.
As to the temp difference between probe and basking spot: you need to adjust the thermostat to whatever number it reads when the basking spot is the temp you want it to be. So if the thermostat probe is 100F when the basking spot is at the desired temp, then set the thermostat at 100F. It doesn't matter what the probe reads; it only matters what the temp of the basking spot (or whatever spot you're trying to heat) actually is, and that the thermostat keeps it at that temp.
As for humidity: adding more semi porous climbing surfaces (cork bark is a material I like) will give the snake more cover and also provide surfaces that will trap water when misted. Mist everything with a spray bottle and see what the RH does.
Also: what is the RH where the snake will be hanging out? That's more important than the RH at some random place.







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