This is regarding the 5 1/2 gal setup a few posts below, where I used a halogen bulb to provide day heat. Did this on 2 cages.

Substrate is dry aspen chips about 3 in deep.

I put some moist moss in a plastic bowl on the cool end.

With the light source as heat, both snakes hid in the moist moss nearly all of the time. Evidently, the dry air due to the light caused the snakes to seek moisture. Since the substrate was also dry, they chose the moss.

I expect the above reaction with kings, but I thought hognose might be far less moisture-loss sensitive. No, hognose are also moisture-loss sensitive to some degree. Certainly a 25 watt halogen above screen in a smallish cage is plenty to make them seek moisture. Water bowl was totally ignored.

Went back to undertank heat, and I cut a piece of styrene foam to cover most of the screened area on top. After a few days, both snakes are out of the moss and buried in the aspen over the heater.

I still think overhead heat can be used if provisions are made so the snakes can avoid water loss while using the heat. Otherwise, mass heat (bottom, side) is probably the approach that not only is effective, but most often preferred by these snakes.

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