Ok, so I'm sure you have heard this question before, but I want to make sure that I do everything right for my future ball.

1. I wanted to get an under tank heater, i was considering cobra heat mats, but it said that it produces constant 100 degrees of heat, and ive read that the ideal basking spot should be 90 degrees, so any suggestions for that would be great. a relative of mine puts a ceramic tile on the part of the glass with the mat and then covers the tile with astroturf. would this be a good idea?

2. Can anyone recommend a great looking but also functional bark substrate?

3. will a water bowl in the tank provide the humidity i need for my python.

any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated.