Thank you for all the suggestions and the warm welcome!
For the record, I definitely see the python as my responsibility. And I'm excited about having a reptile!
I tried to heed some of the advice here. I tried PetCo (the better store I got the pythons from is a little far and I'll be returning there later in the week for hoppers), HomeDepot, and Target and came out with the following changes/questions
1. Got two new hides. I was hoping PetCo near me had a better selection but, alas.... The water bowl on the tank's right actually may work well because it only has one opening and only the non-water side is hollow so it's pretty small inside. On the left I found in the hamster section. The opening (not shown) is pretty big but the rest would be a snug fit for Viper (officially named by my son).
2. Covered the back and sides. Home Depot didn't have foam core for insulation so I got foam for presentations from target and put a background on it.
3. Petco had a CHE bulb but it said 100W recommended for 40 gallons and 60W for 10-20. My current light is the ZooMed Nocturnal Infrared Heat Lamp, it's 100W and from what I've seen so far I think it is the right intensity for heat requirements. Is it 1:1, i.e., should I replace with 100W CHE or a 60W?
4. Was gong to pick up a humidity gauge but it wasn't digital and they didn't have digital and I read online they can be inaccurate. So, with cypress mulch, until I get a humidity digital read, about how often should I be misting?
5. I read online to cover the screen top with duct tape to keep the heat in better. Would you all recommend this is my case? If so, should I drop the wattage as with the changes (sides covered, top covered) the temperature may go up significantly? Also, could I use aluminum foil instead and tape it to the top?
6. Yay or nay on adding plants? Real or fake?
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