I use a common flood light (from home depot) as a basking light and have the light hooked up to a dimmer that can be adjusted. If you are using a thermostat, make sure it is a dimming type, not on/off. Also consider ambient room temps, etc. If the BTS cage will be in a cold room, and the night drop from a basking light being off will be too low, an RHP might be necessary.
I have my Merauke on a topsoil/coir mixture that holds humidity well. Every week, I dump some water into the substrate and stir it up a bit and also keep a large (small cat-litter-sized pan) water bowl in the cage to help with humidity. I've never had any shedding issues with this setup (4'x2'pvc cage with sliding doors and a litter dam).
If using UV be careful with how you place the bulb in regards to how close it is tp the basking bulb. You will want the BTS to have options..i.e. he can manuver to bask under both or under the heat only, etc. I don't keep my bts with UV.. and he has done very well with supplmental calciium/d3. (no IBD or other issues). If using a UV bulb, be very careful with supplementing cal D3. I've heard instances of people over-supplementing when having a bulb in also or undersupplementing, etc.
Mine really enjoys cork bark, to both climb on and hide under. I use a RBI hide for him (just like my snakes) and he loves that also. I have never had any issues with shedding and I think that is partly due to the substrate he can dig in and the rough cork bark.
I feed my adult weekly and use an ice-cube sized chunk of wet dog food, another ice-cube sized chunk of frozen prcessed organic veggies (I make these up in a large batch and then freeze) and supplements (herptivite and the calD3). He also enjoys treats like blueberries, f/t mice pinks, and dubia roaches.
Good luck with your new acquisition. They are very intelligent and quite fun to interact with. Mine has the weekly routine down and whenever I call him by saying "skink, it's time to eat", he quickly scoots up to the glass to await his dinner.
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