after spending much time researching ball pythons i decided that i would get one. but before that i got these items

Used 20 gallon aquarium
2 heat pads
heat lamp and 75 W bulb
a humidity gauge and thermometer
some of the green liner stuff for the floor
and a small to medium sized dog bowl for water
and a Tupperware with a hole for a hide box

is there anything else that you guys recommend getting ?

okay well the main reason that i am writing this is because my first time handling my ball python he struck at me... i waited about 24 hours to handle him like they said. do you guys know of any reason why he would have done this ? was it maybe because i was nervous to hold him ?

also he just sits underneath the heat lamp most of the day even though he had a hide with a heat pad next to it. Ive seen him in the hide for a while but i had to get one that is a little bigger because he wouldn't fit in the regular bowl i had for him before.

anyways i would appreciate any advice you can give me.