I don't YET have a Ball Python because I have wanted to do as much research about the species, care, husbandry and all that good stuff before I did get one. The one question I'm still not sure about the answer is whether or not a light source is really needed, to give off heat for the snake and of course just to light up the enclosure. Every YouTube video says a light heat source is absolutely needed to give the snake proper heat (along with an under-tank heat pad) And then there's that ONE video that says a light source is not needed as long as there's a proper heat mat.

Who can tell me what the real story behind this is?