Question about heating!

Hello, I'm new to this Forum as you may know. I just bought a Ball Python so I can have a companion while I'm sitting in my bed or what not. I have his cage and I have the picture in another thread I made.
I know NOTHING about heating or anything. I know that there are these heating pads that are black looking and all I know is that you can plug them in and stick them wherever and you're set.
But I don't understand the Thermostat thing and everyone is suggesting a Thermostat with a probe? Where would I stick the Probing part, just let it dangle from the side of my cage or let it lay on the ground?
What heating pad should I use? Are there heating pads that you can regulate the temperture on, like a dial and I turn it to see what ever temperature I want?
I know nothing about anything really. Could someone just push me in the right direction with the stuff I just brought up?

I don't want to give you any wrong info, but the care sheets on here are really helpful. I would look at those. :)

So I think what I would do is, say I bought a Big heating pad thingy. Then I would put the probe under the bottom of the tank then put the sticky side up so the probe is stuck to the tank and is touching the heat so it can read the temp.
I'm just so confused about the heating pads and where to put them. I'm SOOOO scared about the winter here because it gets cold and I think it gets cold in the house. So I have no clue what to do about winter time. :'(

Do you have a heat lamp? Those are an absolute necessity. Make sure you have one, especially for the winter!

http://reptilebasics.com/Ranco-ETC-1...d-p-16172.html

you put the probe in the tank on the ground and set the ranco to what you want and plug the pad in the ranco.
or put you're probe on the pad its self.. also go to walmart and get a acurite.

Youi dont want the ambient temps in the tank to go under 80 degrees and the hot side should be around 90-92.

A thermostat is the only way to accurately control the heat source. And use a digital thermometer to check temps in the enclosure, probe over the heat pad in tank and the device on the cold side to get readings of both.

There are plenty of awesome sticky caresheets on this forum. They can tell you about proper thermostat use, and if you still have questions, people will be happy to answer them for you.

My personal recommendation about a cold room, keep the enclosures away from outside walls, and if you need to, warm the room up with a space heater! I have my lovelies in the living room, and can maintain good temps in their tubs when the room is around 70-72. Ventilated tubs hold in heat and humidity very well. :) Another suggestion I've heard is to attach insulating foam around 3 of the walls to help hold the heat in, if you're using a glass tank. :)

Read this in its entirety: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=56846
Then read it again. Make a list of what you need. Draw it out on paper if you need to. Truly- follow this advice! :gj: