New pet

[TGC]

Hello ,
i just purchased a ball python. I have had my tank setup for 2 days, and i am just wanting to make sure he will be happy.

The tank is an exo terra terrarium 24"x18"x18"
The heating method is a 4m (i believe 25Watt) under the tank heating cable made by exo terra.
I also have a light fixture over the tank with a 75W basking bulb (this is just from my previous leapord gecko tank) and i would not like to use this if possible, as it seems too hot and messes with the humidity.
I have a 24" exo terra canopy compact light, and there is 1 26 watt light bulb inside.
my substrate is bark, i think its called fir bark.

Hot end:
I have given a hide on this end, and the thermometer is reading 95F inside this hide, i think this is too hot, what can i do to cool it down some?

Cool end:
I have given a hide and a climbing log on this end. The thermometer is about one inch off the floor on this end and says 75F, but at night it goes down to like 73 or 72F. So i need to warm this side up somehow but i dont know how.

When i placed my snake into the tank, he went inside the cool sides hide. Although now after about 20 minutes, he has started to climb the log, and he was trying to poke his face out the ceiling of my container (it is a secure mesh type top for the exo terra terrarium). Anyways, he is like moving around his container right now, and i am just wondering is he like uncomfortable and like too hot/cold? or is he just exploring? i dont want to wait too long to find out so thats why i am posting here.

Summary:
Does a new snake (like just put in the tank) normally go look around or does it hide?
Is 95F way to hot? is 75F way to cold? (hot side and cool side respectively)
what can i do to maintain good humidity, and proper temps? The store guy told me packaging tape over the unused parts of the mesh on the top is good to seal in heat, is that accurate?

thank you.