Hey , i am new to this forum and i have read the section on care-giving but i still have some questions.... and here they are .

I have an 8 month old ball python with a hetero clown, i have a pretty make shift tank. it is an old fish tank that we cleaned and made look pretty.... the dimensions of the tank are 32x18x12, and according to the care-giving instructions this tank should last him his entire life... but i have concerns about how big he will get in both length and width.

I right now have a lid that is chicken wire that i fashioned after a trip to the hardware store. I would like to know is this an ideal style of lid or should I invest in a fully enclosed lid like plastic or plexy glass to help maintain humidity.

I was also using a heat lamp that i got from pets mart. turns out that the lamp (not the bulb) blew up and now i am looking for an alternate heat source.. i was using a red heat bulb in it . I read that the ball pythons like the under the tank heaters, and i am wondering with the size of tank that he has... what size of mat should i get? as well.... is it worth it, and if not what is the best way to heat the tank...

I am also not sure on the humidity in the tank... so i would like to know what the cheapest options out there are to 1. achieve the best humidity 2. maintain humidity. and 3. what is the best and cheapest thermometer on the market.

I am on a limited budget so i would like to get the necessities and finish the tank over a period of time...