55 Gallon tank heating?

[LynnGunn]

I have a ball python that I'm planning to move into a 55 gallon tank when I get it ready. I have 3 UTH currently unused at my house, what other source of heat should be put in the tank? also substrate for keeping up humidity?

[The Golem]

UTH only warms the surface it touches so I also use a domed lamp on a timer and rheostat to keep the daytime ambient temp up on the warm side of the enclosure.

[Sauzo]

Me personally, I would use 1 UTH on the warm side. Then put a 150 watt CHE on a lamp dimmer on the hot side and adjust it to read around 88F. Then I would put a smaller CHE on a lamp dimmer on the cool side and adjust until the cool side is around 78-80F. Of course this is all based on the rooms overall temps, so if you keep the room warm enough, you don't need the CHE on the cool side. You just want the cool side around 78F and a warm side of around 88-90F. And also don't forget, you will need a t-stat for the UTH regardless.

[Yodawagon]

Best thing would be fill it with water and fish.