First time BP owner...

You can do two uth or a uth and a lamp. The lamp is really only needed to get the ambient temp up if you need to.

I figured I'd give everyone a little bit of an update.

But first, I'd like to say thank you once again for all of the words of advice and suggestions. They have been ridiculously helpful.

Last weekend was the first time I fed him and it was a very successful feeding. I was initially skeptical that he would eat at all due to being in a new environment, even more so, an environment that is still being modified. But my worries were put to rest within two minutes of exposing the mouse to him. :)

Since buying him, I've added a second hide but only just recently. He seems to be slightly hesitant about it considering he has been underneath the wood-tunnel I bought for him from the get-go. But hopefully, he'll adapt to it seeing as how it's more secure and less open.

Thus far, the heat lamp has been holding up and hasn't been a problem yet in terms of heating his enclosure. However, I have full intentions of buying a heating pad this weekend in order to feel better about making sure he is getting enough warmth!

EDIT: Is a second hide necessary if it starts to become more about comfortability/familiarity? Regardless of how open the wood-tunnel has been, it seems as if he finds the most comfort being underneath it all of the time. Albeit, I've only had him for just over a week and shouldn't assume he'll never use his second hide, but I wanted to ask anyway.

Yes, a second hide is always a very good idea :) Sometimes they do seem to prefer one over the other, but they do need to thermo-regulate and when he does feel like being warmer or cooler he will need a place to feel secure. He probably just needs to get used to the new hide OR wherever the hide is that he's using more is what temperature he wants to be at the moment. So again, yes, you should definitely keep that other hide in there :)

Congrats on your new baby by the way and I'm glad he's doing well for ya :D

Two identical hides are ideal, one on the hot side and one on the cool side. When he goes into Blue, you may even want to put a third hide in, with moss or a sponge in it to help through the shedding process. Congratulations and good luck :gj: