Do I even need the heatpad?

[zina10]

If you are really over $1000 in snake stuff so far (and I believe it, lol) just go all the way and get things right.

How far up is the tank? Is it on a table / stand of some sort? If so, just slide the side with the heat tape off and have your husband hold that end up. He can rest the edge of the tank on a chair top or something you put on that side, to help him hold it up. This way you don't have to remove the snake and everything inside of the tank, less stress for everyone.

You can then get underneath and peel off that heat tape. You may end up ruining that one, but again, if its not working correctly the way it is, what is the point...

If you want to get another stick on one, then put silver foil on the sticky side. This way it won't be sticky anymore and you can remove it, re-position it, etc. Once the heat pad is off, place the probe in the middle of the heated area and tape it to the bottom of the glass tank. Then tape the heat tape onto the glass tank along its edges. I would also put the tank on a piece of styrofoam, so that the styrofoam is between the tank and table. Or at least under the heat pad. Then carefully slide the tank back into place, holding the edge up slightly so that you don't scrape off the heat tape while doing so.

I know you have a lot of money into this, but eventually you will figure out that for a couple of hundred dollars you can get a actual snake enclosure, like a Neodesha platic cage or a PVC enclosure. They hold heat and humidity better, are light weight and easy to clean, and the snake feels safer in them, because they are enclosed. Glass tanks are really not a good enclosure for a heat/humidity/seclusion loving species such as a Ball Python. But for now, you can make it work. Its just more effort ..