Just a few suggestions that might help. Get some black contact paper and darken the back and the sides of the tank. I personally used black poster board with velcro strip so I could remove the paper for cleaning. Also I would get two matching hides one for the warm side one for the cool side. BPs like to feel secure. Make sure you tape the whole end of the probe down sometimes that will throw of your reading. I'm not sure which thermostat you have. I bought a Zoo Med for one of my UTHs and I couldn't get it to bring the temps down for nothing. I ended up replacing it with a Hydrofarm (you can get them from Amazon around $30). I have learned alot from this site and I am still learning. I took the advice to let my BP settle in for a week before trying to feed and handle. Good advice. You will get it right don't worry. Your doing the right thing asking for help.