Sounds like you were asking good questions. Being on f/t is a good thing. The reason I asked about the overhead light is that they tend to dry out enclosures compared to undertank heaters. Many people use lights with success though. You can make a simple humid hide that the snake will naturally retreat to when it comes time to shed. Any closed in hide (plastic tupperware or rock type) with some damp moss or even paper towels will do the trick. You just have to mist and change out the paper towels more often to avoid bacteria build up. It's nice to see someone doing their homework before purchasing their first snake. Ball Pythons are my favorite snake, and I think you will really enjoy him/her
Most people use aspen because it looks nicer in setups like that one, although many people use it in rack systems as well. I use newspaper in my racks, but would go with aspen in a display type tank. Make sure to have digital thermostats and hygrometer to monitor everything properly. You can buy Accurite brand digitals at WalMart for under $13 that should do the trick. Don't fall for the analog stick on types that a pet store might recommend. Be sure to check the care sheets here for all of the important stuff.
I forgot, you may look into covering the rest of the back and sides with something dark to give a better sense of security for him.
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