Frequency as I understand it varies depending on the time of the year. Females preparing to breed will eat once a week, however, once every other week for a ball python who is not breeding is good.

I think you should perhaps take a look at what you're doing and the opinions you have made. I know you were told one thing by a breeder who you believe was reliable, however, nobody seems to have heard of this breeder. This is one of the most reputable sites for ball pythons on the web, many top name breeders frequent it. You don't think its odd nobody has heard of this person or that everyone disagrees with him?

Not a single person has said, yes the substate and heating choice is a good idea. You have had educated responses where people explain why these choices are made, why there are alternatives better than what you're using and yet you choose to believe one person who nobody has heard of. Sometimes there are alternatives, yes, but there are also methods that have been proven to work for many people. Why go out on a limb when you have the information right in front of you that everyone knows works?