Hi there - congrats on your new addition!
It might be that you will end up using both the lamp and the heat pad. Lights are good for increasing the overall temperature of the aquarium when the room it's in stays cooler than the temperatures ball pythons prefer (around 80°, give or take a couple of degrees). Heat pads are good for creating an isolated warm spot on the very bottom of the aquarium (around 90°, give or take a couple of degrees) so that the BP has a temperature gradient in which to choose from in which to thermoregulate themselves properly.
If I were you, I wouldn't bother with the reptile carpet. They are infamous for being bacteria breeding grounds and are impossible to keep as clean as they need to be - especially when buried underneath other substrate.
As others have said, I would look into the digital temp/humidity gauges. Here's one that is commonly used in the hobby - you might even be able to find it at Walmart or somewhere similar to that: http://www.acurite.com/environments/...r-00891a2.html.
Also, as others have said, heat pads need to be controlled by a thermostat. Here is an inexpensive option: https://www.hydrofarm.com/p/MTPRTC. Here are much better options: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html.
Left to their own devices, heat pads will easily generate temperatures of well over 100° on the glass above them which is incredibly dangerous for the BP in that enclosure. BPs can, and WILL, find a way to lay directly on the floor of the aquarium regardless of how much stuff starts off between the two. Your goal is to ensure that when they do this, they are still safe. Basically, you make sure the glass temperature above the heat pad never gets above the 90° range and then only put a thin layer of substrate on top of it. Simple as that.
Last, but certainly not least, here are two awesome links that I think you'll find very helpful. Enjoy the reads!
- Ball Python (Python regius) Caresheet - http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet
- How to Setup a Glass Tank (20 long) With Pictures! - http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns with the above information, please feel free to let us know. Welcome to the community!
Best regards,
Eric
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