I just got my first Ball Python last week and I am trying to get down the heating solution. Right now I am using a heat lamp and two 12x8 heating pads to heat the tank. I have a 30x12x12 glass tank with a screen top. I have plastic wrap covering 70% of the screen to hold in the humidity and have a towel on top of that to help hold in the heat. The remaining 30% is where the heat lamp is sitting. I have a heat pad on the bottom of the tank at each end and am using dimmers to regulate the temperature. I have the temperature probes under the terrarium carpet liner against the bottom glass and the hot side is reading 97F and the cool side is 83F. The snake is spending 70% of his time in the hide on the hot side and the other 30% on the branch above the hot side hide directly below the heat lamp. My ambient temps are between 75-80F.

What I would like to do is eliminate the heat lamp if possible. I'm afraid if I do so I won't be able to maintain the proper ambient temperatures. Is what I have sufficient enough to go without the lamp? I have yet to see him venture to the cool side of the tank. What does everyone use to heat their glass tanks? Thanks!