1. Heat pads do not change the temperature of the air inside the cage. This means that if the room is 75 degrees or below you will need a heat lamp to maintain the air temperature inside the cage.
2. Heat pads MUST be regulated by a thermostat. Without a thermostat they can get hot enough to kill your snake (130+)
3. Don't drop the temperatures at night. You want a 88-92 degree hot side and a 78-82 degree cool side. No part of the cage should ever get above 95 or below 75.
4. You MUST regulate your heating pad with a thermostat. This is a completely automated device.
Don't waste your money on the junk sold in pet stores. Here are 3 good thermostats:
Budget: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZZG3S
Mid-Range: http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired
Best: http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html
5. Refer to #1 for if you need one or not. If you do need one I suggest an infrared heat lamp like this one: http://m.petsmart.com/mt/www.petsmar...AvailInUS%2FNo
6. The tin foil isn't going to do much for heat, but will do a lot for humidity.
7. It depends on how far off the temperatures are.
8. As long as the room you are in isn't freezing cold it shouldn't be an issue.
For more information check out these 2 threads:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers
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