I just want to step in for a moment. After quickly reading through this thread, it brought some things to mind that I'd like to remind people...
Most of the issues being pushed for in this thread are OPTIONS and not necessities. There's nothing wrong with overhead heat for a ball python...if the keeper can get the right temps and humidity, the snake really doesn't care of the heat is overhead or underneath. Or even from the side, such as a radiant heat panel or flexwatt down the back of a rack.
There's also nothing wrong with UTH heat. It's all just a matter of preference and what works best for the keeper. But when folks INSIST that their way is the only proper way to do it we create confusion and misunderstanding.
Water bowls....they only NEED a small bowl to drink from. However, there is nothing wrong with providing a larger bowl. Some people like to give their snake the option to soak. Some people need the extra boost of humidity a large bowl gives. Some people don't like to mess with the trouble of large heavy bowls. Again, it is a matter of OPINION and keeper preference. There's no sense in insisting that someone change their way of doing things just because you prefer it differently.
My only real concern about the OP's set up is the temperature extremes. A range of 70 to 105 is far outside of any parameters I've ever seen or heard of for keeping ball pythons healthy. A range of 80 to 90 or even up to 95 would be far more ideal and reduce the chances of your snake getting sick or going off its food.
Seriously folks....let's try to remember that there is no exact way to keep these beauties. Tubs or tanks....UTH or lamps.....feeding outside or inside the cage....big bowls or little bowls.....
Share your opinion....state WHY you prefer what you do....but don't make it sound like your way is the only right way.
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