should i put my heat lamp over my ball python? hes about to shed..hes got his eye caps already?

OK, misting is great. I would mist in the morning the entire enclosure and a little bit more on the side where the heat lamp is. You have the temperature right on the money and wouldn't move it to the hide spot. What I would do is place another hide on the cool side as this will allow the snake to choose whether it wants to be warm or cool. The reason for misting in the morning is this allows the enclosure to dry out through the day and doesn't keep it soaking wet all the time which could potentially be too much humidity and then cause an infection in the lungs. For in depth information you can read my article which was published in Reptilia magazine on my site which covers the Ball Python. Hope this helps.

Heat lamps are actually the cause of most bad sheds. They don't allow the humidity to stay at the right level because they dry the enclosure out... Especially aquariums. Once you get the money you should definitely switch to a UTH (under tank heater) and ditch the heat lamp. That being said, you should leave the heat lamp on one side of the cage. If the snake feels the need to be warmer he will find the heat lamp and vice versa. You should have hides on each side of the cage so he doesn't have to give up warmth for safety or safety for warmth. I can send you very thorough care instructions if you'd like, just send me a message. Good luck!

Keep misting as you are doing now. Contrary to what others have said, do use a heat lamp. Keep your heating items on one end of the enclosure so that you have a warm side and a cooler side so the snake can regulate it's temperature properly. Heat is a necessary element in the humidity equation. As water evaporates due to the heat, that water vapor is what raises the humidity level. You can also help the snake have a good shed by placing something moist (peat moss, paper towels, etc.) in its hide.

I had issues with humidity and incomplete sheds until a more experienced snake keeper gave me the above guidelines and my snake has had complete sheds, including eyecaps, since.

heat lamps sucks up all the humidity, if the tank is 85-90 with no lamp then dont use the lamp at all, if not then you need the lamp. Spray the walls and a little bit on the bedding as often as you need to to keep it humid. I have humidity problems but when my snakes are shedding i spray there tanks every couple of hours and i get great sheds.