first time ball python owner

[cmz1234]

I use cypress mulch (repti bark will work the same, coconut husk, or aspen), which holds humidity and all you need to do is spot clean. Printed paper, unprinted paper, and paper towels work great too. Cheap, but you can't spot clean. Don't use carpet or other like products. I used carpet at first, trashed it because couldn't spot clean and absorbed water which turned into mold.

Remember if you buy any wood products from a hardware store or use any wood you picked up outside to disinfect it either soaking in several bleach baths for 24hrs then drying another 24 hrs or baking 200 - 250 F for a 2 hours.

GL Hyena. And you must post some pics when you get her/him?

scratch the heat lamp,get an under tank heater and a thermostat to control and keep the temp steady wthout you having to constantly adjust like you would with a dimmer or rheostat.

I agree, toss it.

get three digital thermometers,two that have probes and on that will hang on in the middle to gauge ambient air temps.
the two that have probes will measure the cool and warm spot(i put my probes on top of the substrate with a lil bit over em inside the cool and warm hide,the hide sits on top of the probe chord). the thermostat probe and thermometer probe on the basking spot should be placed next to each other.
get a hygrometer to gauge the humidity,a digital one works best but there are some accurate analog hygros that work well but are pretty much the same price as a digital hygro.

IMO you'll only need 2 whether you get rid of the basking spot. Most of the probe devices on the market can be used to measure ambient and localized (ie the hot or cool side). I have 1 for each snake. I place the probe on the hot side and then place the unit near the middle to read ambient temps and humidity.

Since you've done research I'm sure you've got the majority down.