You HAVE to get a thermostat. I is the most important item when keeping a ball python. The uth will eventually burn out, or burn your snake. It may not feel hot but our hands are at 86-92 degrees (depending on if you were outside in the cold). 90 should be the absolute max. They come from a tropical savanna and the average yearly temperature is 86 degrees and they basically dwell underground most of the day. They are seen basking during the day but that's quite rare as they tend to be shy little critters.
As for substrate there have been people that have no problems and some people that do. It's up to you. They can really digest plant material all to well, after all they are carnivores. But they are also found in some forests as well, and with forest comes leaves and leaves eventually drop to the ground. So I would imagine they would be ok.
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