Advice for Beginner setup. Read my list, make suggestions for alterations please.

[blackcrystal22]

Is there something else that you recommend instead then? I thought I remembered reading that aspen was easier to hold moisture with than alot of the other substraits. Perhaps I am misremembering.

Aspen is a fine substrate.

If your getting a hatchling, I don't recommend starting with a 20g. 20g tanks fit adults fine but a 10g would better suit a hatchling or young ball python. 20g might be too much space at once and cause eating problems and stress.