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[PhilK]

I disagree. When my snake was a bub and I put him into his adult enclosure straight up (not being told otherwise) he ate just fine, explored alot, and was fine to handle. Though I did provide him with lots and lots of places to hide (making him feel secure)

Lamps and heating: it sounds like you're gonna have 50 heat elements in there. My idea would be to put one red-tinted reptile globe in one corner and give a basking area. This gives light the snake can't really see and heat. It's fine for day and night. Thsi way you aren't uggling heat lamps, infrareds, heat mats and ceramics. One end will be heated up by the infrared globe, giving a heat gradient. If you want the cage to be light during the day, fit a fluro or something.

Ventilation: yes ventilation is important. See if you can get a glass place to fit vents into the glass directly?