Thanks guys!

I used to own rodents (hamsters/gerbils/rats) so I understand the importance of proper housing for exotics, and having two BP breeders to prod when troubles arise helps a lot. Between them, the caresheet on this forum, and the internet I was able to get a mostly functional tank pre-purchase that I later ended up having to tweak a few weeks ago anyway. Practice is always better than theory, I suppose ;3

I hadn't realized that about the probe; I've got it buried under a thin layer of substrate but it's not resting directly on the pad. Good to know that that's not an issue and more of me just not knowing where to put the thing. He hasn't shown an interest in burrowing, but I do have his hides partially buried deeper in the substrate than just the surface.

Good to know about heat tape, I might invest in that for the T3 then :3 The current UTH I have is working fine, the one that initially came with the tank had been removed previously and I think a wire had shorted inside. When set to 100 there were parts of the warm side showing at 110+ (record highest being 113 in a spot he'd wedged himself between the wall and water bowl) while others were barely 90 and sadly my boy got a few minor burns on his belly. They're gone now, too minor to leave a visible scar, and I replaced the UTH and bought a spare just in case.

I hadn't thought about insulating it, and am now kicking myself for throwing out the styrofoam that came in the box with delicious mousicles. Ah well, next order I'll leave a mental note to keep it and see about attaching it to the glass.