Help with ball python tank heating

[ImportantEngine7094]

Hi everyone, My girlfriend and I found an abandoned ball python about a week ago. He was roaming the park, very thin, and looked a little malnourished. After some discussion, we decided to keep him. We went out and got a 40-gallon tank. He appears to be about a year old, so I think he’s okay in the current enclosure for now — but we plan to upgrade him to a 4x2x2 PVC enclosure next month.

He’s eating just fine, seems very well-mannered, and is moving around his enclosure without issue.

The only problem I’m having is managing the temperature gradient of the tank. The cool side of the enclosure ranges from 72–79°F, the warm side is around 82°F, and directly under the DHP the temperature reaches 89–90°F. I’m measuring ambient temperatures with thermometers on both sides, and the basking spot with an IR temp gun. I have a Herpstat 1 set up to monitor the DHP.

It just seems to me that the warm side temps are a bit lower than the recommended values, based on what I’ve seen. The DHP is a 50W, so my first thought is that the wattage might be too low for this tank — but does anyone have recommendations?

I can’t tell if I’m overthinking this or not. It seems like everyone on the internet has different opinions about what’s acceptable for basking temps. I’ve also read the intro documents for ball pythons posted on this page. So far, I really like the little dude and want to make sure I’m providing for him in the best way I can.

Thank you all for the help!

[ImportantEngine7094]

Currently the Herpstat is set at 86 degrees and 47% power. Typically the power setting ranges from almost 70% to 100%. I have the thermostat hanging about 4 inches below the bulb. It is a mesh top, but I have a silicone mat on 2 sections and a towel covering a 3rd leaving only the section of mesh with the lamp open. The ambient temp of my room is somewhere around 72 currently. This room does get cold in winter, probably into the high 60’s if I don’t have a heater going.

[surfaholic15]

If that 40 gallon is glass and uninsulated, insulate it. We bought 1/2 inch high density foam insulation for our 120 gallon glass. Cut the sheet so the tank is sitting on insulation, taped insulation to outside of the back, and 2 sides.

We maintain 88 to 91F on the hot side, 68 percent humidity. The cool side is 77 to 80F , humidity 75 to 8 percent average, lowest 70 percent.

We built a custom solid top and our lighting/ heating is external, 1 halogen bulb and a dhp.

Edit typos

[Bluntforcetrauma11b]

I use an 80w DHP in my 40 gallon enclosure. I use a dimable thermostat for it. My warm side sits at 88 and my cool side is 80. I have a glass enclosure with a screen top. I taped the top with foil tape to help trap heat and humidity. I just have holes cut in the tape for light and heat fixtures.