tank setup questions

i have a lot of questions and not much time.

Right now I have a red reptile bulb in a ceramic clasp fixture on top of my tank.

I have two petco thermometers (the ones u stick on the walls)

http://www.petco.com/product/8193/PE...Combo-Pak.aspx

Theres teh link. And that humidity meter.

My thermometers are place towards the bottom of the tank like an inch above the substrate.

Now my questions. I hear i need a heating pad with a thermostat to keep one side around 90 and the other side around 80.

Do i need two heat pads one on each side?
Or do I just put a heat pad on the hot side?
Or do I just get one that covers the entire bottom and just put teh light fixture over the hot side?

Now for my light fixture with redbulb.
When do I put it on? All day?

I mean its supposed to aid in heating the basking side isnt it?

Or is it just supposed to be there at night when I turn teh heat pads off?

Do I even turn the heatpads off? I need to to know when the light should be on?

Do i even need light at night?

Do I need a temp gun with probe if i have my thermometers?

So many questions im sorry, but I just got her and you know how petco poorly prepares you....NEWB HERE :(

This should help. Any other questions, just ask.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=59

1. identical hides on opposite ends of tank
2. aspen or paper substrate
3. under tank heat pad for hot side of tank, controlled by either a thermostat
or rheostat.
4. a suitable sized water dish.
5. accurite thermometer/hygrometer w/ probe (this has dual thermomters and
a hygrometer.

The heat lamp will kill the humidity

:welcome:

Right now at the bottom of my tank I have brown shelf liner. Do I still need newspaper?

Im buying a UTH and thermostat now. Does teh thermostat prober go under the tank with the UTH?

When measuring temperature with a thermometer and probe Im putting the probe in the tank right? Just above the ground?

Is the self liner got glue that holds it on???? If so you might want to change this as the UTH could release some of it and also could let off some toxic fumes as it is heated up! Just my opinoin. But if I am wrong someone will correct me ! lol Good luck!:gj:

My setup

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...w/100_0686.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...w/100_0687.jpg

Had a LOT of advice and input from many forum members on here to get it right. I HAVE to use a lamp on the cool side to keep it above 80 since it is cold here right now and the snake is also in the bedroom. I will remove it when temps are up high enough to warrant not using it. As of right now it is on a dimmer to control it and I check it a few times a day. Have a UTH on the other side controlled by a thermostat. Results are speaking for themselves. VERY happy BP that is back on feed and eating consistently for the first time ever.

Also: DO NOT rely on stick on gauges they are not accurate at all. The thermometer I have in mine is the Acurite that EVERYONE uses and you can get them for $12 at lowes. I paid right about $200 for that total setup including all the fauna and backgrounds.