Hi Mike! Welcome!
1) More than likely, he's a normal - they come in all shades and colorations, from very dark, to very brightly colored - my normals cover the spectrum. You can learn about the various mutations (not breeds) that we refer to as morphs, by visiting breeder sites, and looking at the pictures that members here post - it just takes time to learn them.
2) I never feed in a separate enclosure, for the very reason that you mentioned - some are very shy and being moved will put them off of feed. I feed in the enclosure, with the hides. I feed live, so I drop the live prey item in at the opposite end of the enclosure as the snake. Cage aggression is not as inherent in ball pythons, especially if you go into the enclosure to spot clean, change water, and get him/her out for handling. Since EVERY time you go in to the enclosure is not to just feed, there's no reason for them to make that association.
3) I mount the Accurite on the cool side at ground level using velcro to affix to the enclosure on the inside. That is your indoor temps or cool side temps. I take the probe and put it inside the warm side hide on top of the substrate, and measure those temps. That is your outdoor temps, or warm side temps.
I've personally not had issues with my guys burrowing if they were provided appropriately sized hides that are snug and touch them on all sides.
Hope this helps!
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