I've read numerous posts, but just want some clarification on a few things My husband and I recently bought an albino ball python, unfortunately, the person who sold him to us did not give us all details and it seems a bit more work than we were told, which we absolutely do NOT mind, we just want a happy snake

1) As far as the UTH's, would 1 be okay, or is 2 recommended? Also, how do we keep the heat up on the cooler side of the tank? We have a 20 gallon tank and are having issues heating the cooler side (the temp is hovering around 74-75 which we know is unhealthy). We have the mesh top, but keep the cooler half covered to try keeping the heat in. Our apartment is approx 70 degrees - 66 at night. We have a 100W bulb because the 75W bulb was keeping more at the 70 degree range on the cooler side. The basking side is hovering around 90. Our humidity is fine. I don't want him to get sick from it being too cold

2) For probes for the UTH's - do you stick the probe under the UTH prior to sticking it to the tank? We were sold a UTH, with no mention of needing to continuously measure that heat output (although we should have assumed this, I know), so it is already stuck to the bottom on the basking side.

3) Feed inside or outside the enclosure? I've read it's not recommended to pick up the snake after he's eaten because he can regurgitate & also if he isn't warm enough, he won't eat. We have not fed him yet, so just want an idea of what is usually best because we also don't want to have an issue with him striking every time we put our hand in his cage thinking it's food.