omg omg omg i get to answer first!!!!!!!
the enclosure is entirely up to you.some use tubs,some use glass tanks.
a tub you drill a certain amount of holes into for ventilation,a glass tank youd have to modify the screen top to keep heat and humidity from escaping.we can specify the diferent steps to either of those routes of modifications when you decide.im sure alot of others after me will get more in depth on each of those.ive never used a tub(yet)so i couldnt be much help right there but i battled with my glass tank and could assist in that area.another factor is your expenses or what your willing to spend on it.

your going to have to buy one to three enclosures during your bps life.a comfortably sized less stressful smaller enclosure to last thru babyhood to juvie.you caaaan start off with the biggest enclosure but your bp may get stressed unless its really cluttered with foliage and hides.
i started off with a 20gl long tank and will be changing that up as soon as she outgrows it.
your bp should at least be able to fully stretch out long ways and the width should be at least have the lenght of your bp.you know your bp outgrew its enclosure when it cant fully reach out.some others will have different opinions on that as your bp wont always or hardly ever be fully stretching out.(mine does all the time though)

yes you do need to offer two snug hiding spots on the cool side and warm side. i also offer a hide in the middle. id put the warm side hide on top of the uth.your uth must be regulated by a thermostat because some can reach up to 120 degrees.if your rooms ambient air temps are below 75 you might need to also add a ceramic heat emmiter or a colored heat lamp like an infra red,again regulated by a thermostat or rheostat for this one.but im sure you know about thermostats and rheostats as you have been keeping reptiles since you were twelve

feeding,people go by different things like 1.5x bigger than the head,as thick as the thickest part of your bps body,or based on the weight of your snake. the best way to determine what size food they eat is based on weight.my babys thickest part of her body is pretty much 1.5x bigger than her body so i havnt crossed that bridge yet.but i will tell you once she starts growing ill have a digital weight scale to go by the weight theory.
someone will sure enough help us with the snake weight/prey weight ratio in the next few posts.

im glad you came here to ask before you get your snake,i was one of those who made the mistake and got everything at once and had to keep going back to the store while my snakes parameters were fluctuating.luckily where i stay my ambient room air temps are warm.also congratulations on making your mind up and considering your first bp.great creatures they are.