Pet Shop vs. Home

[BeginnerBoa]

I just pickedup my very first snaes today, and had a few questions. But first, by way of introductions

This is my male BCI

This is my female BCI

and this is their home

BTW, thanks you to HetForHumans for the great thread on enclosures. I basically took his design and modified it to what I wanted. Now for the questions.

1) At the pet shop they don't use heat tape or any UTH. I asked if I needed one for home and they said no. I have one 50 watt heat light in each enclosure. The temp stays in the low 80's but I think I am going to have to get a dimmer, because I came home today and the temp was at 86. I have the lights on a timer of 12 on 12 off, but should I use heat tape in addition to the light?

2) When I picked them up today they hadn't eaten for about a week. But I was told not to feed them for another week to allow them to get used to their surroundings. Now the male has been pretty active from the get go and I know they can do that when they get hungry, or he could just be checking out his surroundings. I don't want them to get sick, but I don't want them to go hungry either. Also, as far as feading, I read and got responses anywhere from every 3 to 10 days. Any suggestions?

3) Finally, I just moved to San diego, and I've heard about an IRBA? exhibit that coming up in July. Has anyone attended them in the past and can let me know what it's like?

Thank for the help. I've read a lot of acre sheets and talked to a lot of people, it just seems like every one I talk to passes off their opinion as fact, and I am just trying to make sense of it all. Thanks again.

Scott