for the UTH, if nothing else, run down to home depot or lowes and get a dimmer switch, usually around the lighting department or just ask one of the people around that area and they can usually get you what you want. I am using them and it works out well enough for me. If you can go to a pet store and pick up a laser thermal reader that would be a great addition to get the heat spot right for you. Before then, the dimmer will at least allow you to provide a decent amount of heat without taking the chance to burn your snake. My dimmers tend to be less than around half way turned on and I hope that helps to get you started until you can get a thermal reader. I think the thermal reader I got was around $25 from pets mart. Best of luck!