Petco will have their $1 a gallon sale soon so save your 40g buying for that . If you decide you still want a tank. The PVC cages are probably better, although I don't really like how they look. Up to you.

Yeah, you can keep it in a 10g for awhile, so no reason to run out for a tank right now. You do need a thermostat though. I'm using this kind: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NZ...IfL&ref=plSrch

It's cheap but works. You can get much better products eventually, but this is a good way to get started with a BP without going broke or burning your snake.

You can make hides out of things like margarine tubs or (plastic) coffee cans. Or plastic bowls or flower pot bottoms or whatever. Get creative!

The basics: a secure enclosure. A heat source and something to control the heat source. A thermometer/hygrometer to measure the temps and humidity. Something to put in the bottom of the enclosure (paper towels work fine, but if you like wood chips more, aspen is good). Something to use as a hide. Well, 2 hides . A water dish. Food (have you found a source?). You can provide the basics quite inexpensively---how fancy you want to get is up to you.