ok i will work on it - when you guys say heat pad do you mean the same kind people use for aches and pains or a special one for reptiles? I have a piece of warped wood and some plastic leaf type stuff in the tank right now for hiding there was a half carved log that the guy gave me but it took up so much of the tank there was hardly no place to move. the temp in the tank constantly fluctuates. I try to keep it between 84 and 87 but i have seen it as high as 90 and had to turn the heat lamp off for a while. I can go out today and get a tub for him and a heating pad if you guys think thats better