I am new to the whole snake thing but i am buying my first one which is a ball python tommorrow...i have a few questions on some things....the area right under the heat lamp is at 95- 100 degrees which this area i think is called the basking area but is the temp ok... every where else on that side of the tank is around 90...the otherend of the tank is around 70 degrees. and also i am getting these temps with a heat lamp, do i need a uth also?

i am having trouble with the humidity getting above 55% which i know is a normal humidity level but i am worried about getting it up when it is shedding...i have heard that i can put some kind of moss in a hide for a humidity hide...but what kind of moss and does it need to be sterilized and if so how? and where do i get it?

also i took some clear tubberwear bowls and spraypainted them to make them dard so the snake will feel secure...will the spraypaint hurt the snake. i have had them out in the sun for 2 days and will leave them there till tommorrow.

and last thing is i have been looking at decorations at the pet shop and they seem to have drift wood that looks the same as i can get at the river and theres cost anywhere from 10 to 25 dollars...can i just go get some from the river? my only concern with getting it myself is i dont want to get any pine or cedar but i am not sure what it looks like, cuz all the drift wood looks the same to me...and if i do get it do i need to sterilize the wood and if so how?

any help will be apreciated...thanks...i think i am putting way to much thought into this thing and making it harder than it should be but i dont want to do anything to hurt the snake.