Thanks for the advice! I was using the human heating pad because it had the low-med-hi settings so I could adjust it when I drop the temperature in the bedroom at night. I didn't even think of a rheostat! Is there any particular reason why the reptile ones are better?

Also, I have cluttered up the 40 gallon just as much as I could. There are 4 towels bunched up in the corners and another along the back. He seems confident enough to wander about. Then again, I haven't fed him yet (I was told to wait a week,) so I don't know for sure if he will be confident enough to eat.

Thank you again!