Did do some research and found out the zoo med thing is pretty much ... well Junk.... I will be going to the pet store or looking on line for something that regulates the temperatures and turns off and on automatically. Right now I do have the temperature stabilized at 90° F according to my good thermometer, It is for a chicken egg incubator and I know it works real well for that. There will be several things I need to buy, to make ours and the snakes life a bit easier, but it will all come in good time. I only paid $50.00 for the snake, tank (including all in it, heat pad and heat lamp), locking screen lid, a bag of Repti bark bedding, the tank stand, and the extra rat for the next feeding so I thought that was a good deal. Heck, I did not even TRY to talk the seller down LOL

As for the 200 watt bulb.... I know it may seem like a lot, but we live in New York and night temperatures are down to the upper 30's low 40's already. We still have our windows open and have not yet turned on the heat so for right now it is just right. I know I have to figure out something for humidity but have not done enough reading/research yet to know exactly what yet.

Thanks so much for all your replies, it feels good to affirm what I am doing so far is, for the most part, right.

**Kaorte.... It does look like s/he shed in pieces... from all the little parts strewn all over the litter... Not sure what happened there, but s/he does look to be completely shed out right now. Skin is "as smooth as a baby's bottom"

My son is ecstatic with his new friend, here is a picture I took of them this afternoon when he got home from school!