It's a beautiful hide, but I have to say I'm glad I don't have it because there are multiple threads with horror stories! If the temperatures in the tank are that high in the middle of the tank, I'm assuming the hide he likes is probably on the cooler end? Hmmm. I mean I'll admit that I'm new and so I think it'll be good when some more experienced members chime in (and I'll gladly take any advice they give that might help me, too!), but Ekans explores all over both the warm and cool sides of his setup, and has been eating and pooping well, so I'll describe how I have it set up for you
Ekans is a baby and he's in a 20 gallon long tank... I was recommended a 10 until he outgrows it, but instead I just use a TON of hides. They like to hide a lot, so he has a half log (he doesn't use it as a hide but uses it kind of like a highway to get from place to place with some more cover), a commercially sold driftwood climbing branch, a corner water dish, and anywhere from 4-8 cardboard hides made of paper towel rolls, egg cartons (those were his FAVORITE for a while), and other cardboard things that make nice snug little 'caves'. I have my heating pad on the very right side of his cage, and it should only take up about 1/4 to 1/3 of the cage so they can warm up if they need to or cool down if they need to. In my apartment, the cold side of Ekans enclosure runs about 69-72 degrees, which is lower than the 75ish that I often hear for the low end, but I often find him on that side, except after he's eaten and needs to be warmer to digest. I try to keep the other half of the enclosure around 83-86 in his warm hide. If your room is significantly warmer than mine, you might not need his heater at all right now. But, it might be a good idea to plug the heater into an inexpensive thermostat, like the one I have. That way if the temperature is slightly low, or dips at night, it will help regulate it without it being so hot. I can to check what brand it is and find the amazon link for you, if you'd like. You might also want to invest in a temperature/thermometer gun, since it's not the air temperature, but the ground and the area where he's crawling around that the temperature really matters.
Everyone is new at some point, and this might sound like a lot but once you get started and the setup is doing well, it's not as overwhelming as it can sound. It makes sense to use the mouse as a lure, but I think now that you know that he was in that log your best option might be to modify it to avoid scares. :laugh: Did he actually eat both days? And what do you use for substrate?
Also, once he's settled in a little more, I'd be really interested in seeing pictures and maybe videos of the little guy! I'm going to start a thread for Ekans (who is in the middle of attempting a jail break right now and has managed to wedge himself along the ledge of his cage) to show him off a little bit, and maybe you should consider doing the same for your little friend!