Alrighty so first I'd like to say I'm 25 with 4 kids (nb,3,4, and 5). I love my job and my animals I've had in the past. I've kept a few leopard geckos, Chinese water dragons, and a crested gecko. Once I started having kids I had to give my created gecko away unfortunately. So now it's 5-6 years later id like to get a ball python. I've been looking on these forums for about a month just looking and reading and I think I'll be picking up supplies this week or weekend whenever I make it out of town to the pet stores or Walmart.

Here is my plan on items to get and this is where I really want help and I'm a bit confused bc I've never had any kind of snake and it's a totally new world to what I'm used to.

20g glass tank a longer one not tall
2 uth
2 thermostat
since it's winter I was gonna get the spagnum moss or whatever for humidity
some coconut husks for when winter goes poof
2 hides
a small cfl for day/night adjust
One of those digital thermometers with 2 readings to cover both sides and humidity
and a few climbing branches

so now that brings me to the questions..do I need a ceramic heater or anything or will the Uths be good to cover both sides temps? I want to avoid the heat lights for humidity.

The he most important question should I buy from a pet store or online breeder? I've heard a lot of horror stories of pets dead when they arrive and I personally had one bad with one of my water dragon showed up frozen. That's the one and only time I've ever bought online. Update on him though he survived and hated the world couldn't pet him or hold him anything he'd always try to bite and died about a month later.

just looking for extra advice and all help is appreciated! Thank you