Thanks again for all the replies and useful information.

The first choice we made when we decided to get a snake is Male!

So here is where I am at now.

I have decided to go with the PVC enclosure (enclosure, just sounds nicer then cage). I think the PVC enclosure is the best comprise between tub and glass, you can still view the snake, which we will very much want to do and get the benefits of easy heating and humidity. Plus the PVC enclosures have locks to avoid escapes as stated above.

I have done a ton of research. While American Plastics does come highly rated, I just can not find a single bad thing that any one had to say about Constrictors Northwest (http://www.constrictorsnw.com). All reviews for Constrictors NW are glowing, easy to clean, no warping, no discoloring good customer service. And after a long talk on the phone with Ed, I am already very happy with customer service. So I am going with 36 x 23 x 12. I am also considering a 36 x 23 x 18 just because I think it will be nicer to have the extra space and bigger opening for cleaning and maintenance. And Ed says they are escape proof so I am hoping that is correct.

I live in NW Montana and it gets very cold here. Every week we have at least a week of negative 30 degrees, sometimes colder. It is not uncommon during the winter for our house to get as low as 50 - 55 degrees. So I think I am going to go with Radiant Heat and an under tank heat system just in case it is needed. I have contacted Pro Products (http://pro-products.com) to get information on Pro Heat Radiant panels. I am fairly certain this is the way I will go once they reply.

I am still unsure what the best heating option is for under the tank, or if it is even necessary.

I did see in several posts last night that Herpstat 1/2 is the way to go. I haven't even started researching that yet, as I want to know what I will be using to heat, just RHP or RHP and Under tank so I know what I will be plugging into it.

I have done zero research on thermometers and other small stuff, but I imagine that will be fairly straight forward.

Eclipse Exotics has gotten back to me and it looks like I will not be able to get the beautiful baby I wanted.

He can be seen here: http://www.eclipseexotics.com/showanimal.cfm?id=193

She was very nice and helpful, but I will have issues in feeding him that I am hoping will not be a problem with other snakes I might find. It seems he was a difficult starter but is now feeding regularly for up to a month, misses a week and then goes back to feeding regularly. He will only eat live rat pups. I have zero problems with this and actually wanted to feed to live. The issue is the only feeders we can get locally for small snakes are frozen mice. So not only would I have to hope he will eat frozen I will have to get him to go from rats to mice and she does not know if he will.

So I am really hoping that Justin replies to the email I sent last night or I am back to square one as far breeders go.

And that is as far as I have gotten!

I am wondering if I do want to feed live and my optional for the snake while it is still only able to eat very small rodents is frozen, will I be able to switch to live after he gets to a size that he can eat bigger prey.