Thanks for the input. We have realised that there is too much ventilation along the top section of the viv. The corn on the top has 3 small vents and the bottom viv with our BP has a 5cm strip along the top of the viv at the back. We have blocked up sections and left 3 vent sections open and the rest closed.
I hear you on swapping the snakes. We just want to give the BP a chance to settle. He is warm enough on the hot side and it's gone up to 24c on the cold side. Also the bedding is taking time to heat up so we hope by Monday or Tuesday the temp on the cold side will be 26c. The viv is 3ft and at the moment Lomu has a gradient which will keep him warm enough and able to move out of the hot side if he wants to.
We are using a gun and have a thermometer. The thermometer and the stat are nearly aligned. I am assuming that one goes with what the gun says over the thermometer and stat?
The gun read 34.8c and the thermometer read 32.4 and the stat is set at 31c. The hides are not directly below the lamp and surrounding the area at 29c inside the hide. Lomu has spent the last 2 days sleeping in the grey hide at 29c which fluctuates from 29c to 30c. He came out last night and explored - went up onto his top branch and lay near the lamp along his branch at the top then came down and eventually went into his hide. His movements are slow with lots of tongue flicking. He also lay in the cold area last night. We just happy that he is OK to come out and happy has a hide that he is enjoying.
I will send updated pics of the viv after adjustments. He has been left alone now for a day without fiddling.