OK , i posted yesterday under the Topic "First time snake owner". Since then i have gotten a 50 gallon under tank heater, a digital thermometer/hydrometer (but i have to put the thermometer itself in the aquarium, the probe doesnt measure the humidity), and the manual that was suggested, the Manual to Ball pythons or whatever by Philip de vosjoli, and read it, but i still have some questions.
1. The UTH came with four rubber nub things that you put on the corners of the aquarium to lift it up a bit so you can slide the heater under the tank, is this enough room to where it wont burn the snake if he happens to push all the bark away somehow? I have about 2 inches of snake quality bark spread evenly throughout the tank. Should i lay down an "aquarium carpet" to provide extra protection from the heater? will doing this make the temp inside go down? the heater is off to the left of the tank. in front of his hide box, the temperature inside the hide box (thats where i put the probe) , seems to be staying around 93-95F. The other side of the tank (the cool side) seemed to stick around 85 degrees. Is this an adequate set up for the snake?
2. I also got a timer, to automatically turn the nighttime light bulb on at 8pm and turn off at 8 am. It's pretty much more so i can actually see the tank at night, i have it suspended high enough to where i dont think its messing with the temperatures. Is this ok?
3. When i did put the hydrometer inside the aquarium, it was only 42% inside. I was told to keep it above 50 percent. All i have in there is a maybe 8 inch in diameter pyrex glass dish filled about halfway with water. i moved it a little closer to the middle of the tank to bring it a little closer to the heatsource. Is this a good solution? if not what can i do to raise humidity?
4. If the heater gets too hot over night ( it has only been in place about 5 hours), is there a way too lower it? the mat i got did not have a thermostat or anything on it to control the temperature... so i have no real temperature control inside the aquarium... i just have the heater under the tank.
5. all these measurements of the temp im taking, im sort of burying the probe halfway down in the substrate (bark), is this a good way to measure it?

im sure i will have more questions as i go along. thanks to anyone who takes the time to read/respond =)