Expert advice for a new Ball Python owner

[Tiffanie]

My normal male was a rescue and the owner gave me the heatpad(stick on kind), she used it unregulated and I temped it out at 139 degrees.

Reptile basics just put out a nice relatively inexpensive thermostat called the hobby stat, looks pretty good and about 50 bucks( Im thinking about getting one).
Otherwise you can use a plug in dimmer switch from home depot(15.00) and a nice digital thermometer from walmart and put the probe on the inside glass over the heatpad, adjust till the temps are right. Dont skimp on the digital thermometer they are only 12.00.
You will still need to check the temps if you go with a dimmer once a day.I check mine every night. I use a dimmer on my taiwans and a reptile basics VE-200 with the others.

Great information!! Thank u so much online right now placing an order from reptile basics Just to make sure I got this right... I plug the VE200 into my subterranean heater. Then place the probe inside the tank on the heating pad. Does the probe have a wire that I have to run outside the tank? That may cause a but of an issue when trying to close the tank. Wireless would be awesome! Do they have those?