New-to-us BP

[Nicodareus]

A couple weeks ago my GF brought home an extremely sick BP to try and nurse back to health (earlier posts). Unfortunately that didn't go too well and he ended up dying. She's been really wanting to get a BP for a month or so and finally pulled the trigger.

He's about 1.5-2' long and housed in a 20 gal tank with a locking screen top at the moment. The tank furniture/ decor includes a couple climbing trees, a hidey hole log and a large water bowl the snake can completely fit in to bathe. All of this is surrounded by aspen substrate. A heat lamp on one side, a heating pad under the log and an infra-red lamp on the other provide the heat. Currently the 'cool' side is running at 80 degrees on the dot. The basking area is running at 85ish- may have to get another lamp to get to the recommended 90 degrees. What do y'all think? NEED 90 degrees or is 85 fine?

Hygrometer and 2 thermometers in the tank to measure the 2 sides. Humidity is at 45% at the moment, which is low from what I've read. I'm hoping the water bowl will evaporate a bit and bring up the humidity. Is misting the entire enclosure a good idea or just a waste of time? Was thinking about making or getting an auto mister if the humidity doesn't increase a bit.

We just set up the cage an hour or 2 ago so we're trying different configs for the heat.

He's been very active, climbing all over the place, inspecting for escape routes and generally running all over the place. He went throught the hidey-hole log to inspect, but didn't stay long. I'm very surprised that he's so active, especially after a relatively long car ride in a really small container.

Any recommendations on what we should do from here?

Also, need to think of a couple names....

[pythontricker]

NO PICS?!?!?!?! Around here its a sin to not have pics! lol. Hopefully he gets back to health quick! and misting the cage can be very helpful. I would do it if i were you.

[Clyde Frog]

A good way to get the humidity up quickly is to use a sea sponge. Soak it and put it in the enclosure.

Personally, I mist once a day. I don't mind it but some people will recommend against it due to the fact that its time consuming for those that have multiple BPs. At least, thats the reason I most hear for not liking to mist, anyways.

[irock_2006]

I have a 20-long aquarium with a screentop and have trouble keeping the humidity up sometimes...fold up a towl and cover about 1/2 to 3/4 of the screen top for a while, especially if it is close to shedding, this will raise the hum. and help with the shed...the towel does not have to be wet, just make sure it is over the end with the water bowl so it blocks the water from evaporating out....

[Nicodareus]

Cool thanks for the tips. Put a small sponge in there and put the towel over top. Humidity is now at 55% +/-. I've read of multiple ways to keep a glass aquarium warm. Currently we've got an UTH under the log cut-out and it's not terribly warm. I find it odd that he still hasn't gone in there. He's hanging out under the tree we got for him to bask in. Anyway, back to heat. We've got the infra-red light to provide heat as well and during the day plan on putting the directed light to heat the basking area.

I've seen where people have multiple UTHs turned up to varying degrees to heat up the 3 requisite areas. Would this be preferrable to having lamps for heating?

Was looking at one of the Herpstat pros. Looks really nice but also runs a few bucks we hadn't budgeted for. May get one of those in future...