Heating a 20 gal tank??

I've got a 20 gal fish tank that I will be using for my soon to be future baby Ball. I went to Petland to see what they had as far as what I would need, and a guy that I go to church with also works there. So I go and check out everything and the prices is absolutely crazy!! There's no way I'm getting my stuff from there. I went to reptiledirect.com to check out the prices and was pleased with what I seen. What do you guys recommend for heating my tank???? I've got a heating pad that I'll use so besides that what kind of bulbs, light fixtures, and other heating things do you guys recommend my using for my hot side and cool side???? Can I get these things on reptiledirect.com or if there's another side that has what I need with good prices please let me know....Thank you...and Thanks for the replies on my other topic on the day/night cycle thing. I got good answers on that topic and am sure I'll get the same on this one. Thanks again.

Shawn

id be sure to have at least one heat lamp. use a red or black reptile bulb with it though

If your housing a ball python all you really need is belly heat which is most important for digestions (or so i have read many places). I keep my ball python in a 90QT sterilite and i use a human heating pad for heat.

Human heat pad - in a tank that size you can slide 3/4 or all of it under one end - take plenty of temp readings especially surface temps. What kind of substrate you planning on using? If your temps at that point still need a little help then add the heat lamp - just know its going to leech at your humidity levels and make that a concern.

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Originally Posted by Smulkin

Human heat pad - in a tank that size you can slide 3/4 or all of it under one end - take plenty of temp readings especially surface temps. What kind of substrate you planning on using? If your temps at that point still need a little help then add the heat lamp - just know its going to leech at your humidity levels and make that a concern.

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I plan on using astro turf.

I used the same enclosure for my Ball when he was smaller, and had an UTH and a red heat lamp. The UTH heater kept him nice and warm. And when it came time for him digest his food I would turn on the heat lamp. I was also using cypress mulch for a substrate.