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1. Eco earth is a good choice, it will help keep humidity up in the cage, but can be messy. aspen is another good choice, as is cypress mulch, and my personal favorite paper towels/newspaper. There really isn't a "best substrate" just what works best for you and your cage setup. Do not use cedar or pine as the oils in these woods is toxic to snakes.
2. Avoid anything sold in pet stores, all they sell is overpriced junk. I like this unit sold at Walmart. it has 2 thermometers and a hygrometer (humidity) all in one package. They cost $12
As for thermostats here are 3 good options. Once again stay away from pet stores (this goes for just about everything)
Budget: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S
Mid-Range: http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired
Best: http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html (for a single cage a Herpstat intro + or Herpstat 1 woulb be what I would get)
3. simpler is better. This is how I set up all of my cages:
it has 2 good hides, a water dish, and appropriate thermometers/hygrometers. Not too much open floor space (which can stress a snake out) and proper temperatures/humidity. Anything else you want to add to a cage is decoration and for you not the snake. This is what they NEED.
4. Read through these 2 threads. They are full of good information:
Care: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet
Cage heating/thermometers/thermostats: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers
If you answer these questions we can help to make sure that you have everything set up right.
1. What are you planning on using for a cage/how big is it?
2. What are you going to heat the cage with?
3. What is the average temperature of the room that the cage is going to be in?
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