Didn't research enough. Mistake? Help needed.

[satomi325]

So for $60 dollars I purchased a 40 gallon tank, few packs of bedding, hides, 2 thermometers, and climbing equipment on Craigs list (KILLER DEAL)
I'm in the market for buying my FIRST snake, a fire ball python (male) for those who care. I'm not a breeder. I just want it as a pet.
Buying a baby, and I was planning on buying a glass pane to seperate the tank into 2 20gallon sides, one for the snake, and the other for the supplies and stuff. Until he grew up of course.

I didn't know much about the humidity, and I've been studying for weeks. I don't know how it just didn't come up until now.
JUST found out about plastic tubs, but dammit they look so ugly.
I KNOW I KNOW, the whole "it's what your snake wants" argument, it's just so n0n-presentable. I'm an orderly kind of guy, so it really bugs me how unprofessional it looks.

Did I make the mistake on buying the cage?
AND should I go to tub?
How effective is the wet towel over the mesh top? I work 8 hours a day 5 days a week, so depending on how much I'd have to switch the towel out. Maybe insulate the sides? something like that?

Kinda bummed on how honestly (dumb) weird it'll look with a snake in tupperware in my room.
Any thoughts? Should I suck it up?

For aesthetics, you may want to look at Animal Plastics' T8 cage. It is what I recommend if you don't want an 'ugly' tub. It maintains enclosure temps and humidity much better than a glass tank.

In my opinion, I personally don't like glass tanks. They are a pain in the butt to deal with in my experience. However, it's what you have and want, so we can try to make it work if you still want to use the tank.
You can get a plexiglass piece(or damp towel and wet every other day or so, you may have to wet every day or less depending. Just adjust accordingly) to fit over 90% of the lid to help retain humidity. Use a large water dish and keep it over the hotspot of the enclosure. Larger water surface = greater evaporation. You can also use a moisture retaining substrate like coco husk or cypress mulch. And don't use a heat lamp, which will kill humidity.


If you want a tub that is more "display friendly", you can try these Rubbermaid tubs:
I've heard some people starting to use it for their snakes with success.

If you choose to use this or the more regular tubs everyone has, you need to have a thermostat and a heating pad. The thermostat regulates and controls the heating pad so it doesn't get too hot and burn your snake/melt the plastic.