Hello folks!

This is my first post here, although I've been lurking around the site for years. I have never kept snakes before (have had crested geckos for 5 years now) but I've been getting the itch to try something new and shockingly enough my husband is cool with it (he admitted that he might actually interact more with a snake than a gecko).

All that said, we've narrowed our options down to a western hog (my first choice) or a BP. I prefer the hog's smaller size and that they're diurnal and more active (according to what I've read) than a BP would be.

We acquired a couple tanks yesteday, a 10gl and 20gl long and I am planning on having my setup ready before the end of July, when we will be attending our first reptile show (repticon Atlanta).

I've read several care sheets and scoured posts looking for info, but am still at a loss when it comes to properly setting up my heat sources and what brands of mats / bulbs / thermostats, etc would be the safest (while not crazy expensive) to use. I also have a couple questions about frozen feeders that I will tack on at the end.

Here's my "shopping list"... Please let me know if I need to add / remove anything and / or if you have any recs for what to buy. I'd love to be able to get items that could be "multi-purpose", since we could be coming home with a ball instead of a hog (ie. if a certain heat mat placed differently will work for either a 10gl or 20gl, if a ceramic heat emitter would be a better multi-purpose solution, etc.). I'm also trying to streamline this and make my setup as economical as possible.. i don't want to "go cheap", but anything I can do to keep it reasonable is a plus.

10 gl tank (purchased)
10gl screen cover (any rec's for one with sliding lid / locks?)
Thermostat / humidity gague ( Acu-Rite 00891A1 Indoor and Outdoor Thermometer with Humidity)
Infrared thermometer (Etekcity Temperature Gun Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer) *is this a good one?
UTH (I have NO idea what size or brand would be best...I"ve read it should cover 30% of tank bottom)
Fluorescent strip light on timer for day/night cycle (have one laying around somewhere)
UVB bulb? is is necessary
Bedding (I am unsure.. I'd like something very easy to spot clean... maybe something clumping sand based any recs?) I have tons of paper pellet style cat litter (I use for rodents) but I do not know if this is suitable
Cage carpet to go under bedding? (I've seen this rec'd in the BP section but not on any hog care sheets)
2 hides (unsure on size as I do not know the size of the snake we will get. any recs are appreciated on sizes that might work for various size hogs)
Climbing branch (thinking grape wood with a water-based poly coating so it's easy to clean) and rough rocks for shedding, plastic plants for cover, etc.

Also, a question regarding feeders. we will try to buy frozen feeders while at the show (to avoid shipping charges at least the first time around). What should I look for size-wise and although I know it varies, about how much should I pay / how many should I buy at a time (I do not know how long they store frozen without loosing nutritional value). I figured if the hog eats, say 2 pinkies a week, buying a pkg of 50 would be enough for 25 weeks (although i don't know how large a pkg of 50 pinkies would be and if it would fit in our freezer...)

Thank you so much everyone for your time and assistance! I'm So excited about this and even more so that my husband might enjoy this side of the reptile hobby with me. If you have any other information you think will be of assistance (i.e. if you'd recommend to look for a certain size / weight animals or what to look for at the show, how much an average price is, etc.) would be appreciated as well... I know what to look for in geckos, but have no clue with snakes.

Thanks again (and sorry for this outrageously long post)
Artgecko