Substrate...

I know everyone has there own opinion and this will probably start some controversy but i want everyone's opinion. I am currently using a liner in my 55 gal. setup. i have a UTH and currently have a gradient problem. Temperature runs 98 at the UTH but 76 on the opposite end. i was wondering what substrate i should use to even the gradient out, but wont harm the snake. I also live feed in the tank so ingestion is a small concern. Everyone's input would be appreciated.

Any specifics you can give would help in tracking down my choice.

I use Cypress Mulch.

There isn't going to be a substrate that is going to even out your gradient.

You need to lower your warm side and warm up your cool side. A 55g is way too large for an adult ball python. Unless a snake needs a cage that large, it's really going to be extremely difficult to manage, near impossible to keep humidity, and expensive for heat.

If your set on keeping it, buy 2 red lamps put them on top for ambient heat. Buy 2 UTH's, and 2 thermostats.
Spray with warm water every day or buy a misting machine.

Use aspen, cypress mulch, or newspaper. No sand, pine, or cedar!

Yeah, a 55 gal is way to big....even for an adult. Perhaps you could put some kind of divider in there and put another (opposite gender) BP on the other side?....after proper quarantine measures of course...:)...It could make keeping the proper heat gradient less difficult. There are also some great threads on here for tips on keeping tanks at the right humidity for BPs. Check em' out! ....and good luck :)

i too have a 55gal tank that i'm stuck w/ for now. i use aspen bedding on top of a couple of layers of newsprint.

when i fed my snake last, she had a little bit of bedding on the rat's side but i picked it off b4 she ingested.

You need a heating source at each end hooked to a t-stat. Two of my snakes do not eat out of their cage and I use aspen. I feed at night and the morning of feedings those two cages get a piece of carboard place over top of the substrate to avoid possible ingestion of the substrate. I feed f/t so the snakes allways eat over the cardboard. With live feeding I would try and feed with tongues over the cardboard to prevent the mouse from entering an area not covered.