Hi! Welcome to the forum! Congratulations on your new addition. Our caresheet can give some good ideas and insights on keeping this little boogers.

What type of enclosure do you have him in? The jungle earth may retain too much humidity causing scale rot later on. Since he is new, I would switch to paper towels or newspaper so you can monitor the feces and make sure you don't have any mite infestations. Do you have a good digital thermometer in the enclosure? A good combo unit can be found at WalMart for $15. The brand is Acu-Rite and it is a thermometer/hygrometer. It measures temps for both sides of the enclosure and the relative humidity. It is a necessity when keeping these snakes. They are a little more particular when it comes to temperature fluctuations.

If the heat pad by itself is keeping the warm side at 94-95 degrees and the cool side around 82-84. The enclosure shouldn't drop below 80 degrees at any given time. Thermostats or rheostats(not as much) can help remedy these fluctuations. Heat pads are good for belly heat and help keep the humidity from being leached out of the air. If the temperatures can't get in those ranges with the heat pad alone, another heat pad on the cool side may be needed, or a heat lamp. If you choose to use a heat lamp, you may need to cover the screen top(if that is what you are using) with Con-Tac paper(cabinet shelf liner), Glad Press N' Seal works wonders, as well as a sheet of plexiglass with holes drilled in it.

If you want to use a "natural" looking substrate, I recommend cypress mulch. I got a huge bag from Home Depot for around $3. I got out what I needed to fill the 1.5-2" deep, placed it on cookie sheets or baking pans, and baked it in the oven at 300 degrees until it was dry. This ensures that all parasites are gone and the snake doesn't get scale rot from the substrate being too wet. It retains heat very well. I placed a few sheets of newspaper underneath it just in case she burrowed into it too deep.

Since the snake is new, it is best to leave it alone for a week to a week and a half, only changing the water and cleaning messes. No handling. Since you already own a few snakes, you know it is imperative to let them get settled in, and then attempt to feed them about 2 weeks after they first arrive.

Also, a vet check and a fecal would be a good thing to get done, just in case he is harboring any parasites. Don't want your current collection contracting anything. A fecal should only cost around $10-$15(if it does, shop around some more).

One last thing... Show pictures!!! Of anything is great, your family, your scaly and furry children. I would love to see your Beardie

Hope this has helped a bit. If you have any other questions, just ask.