1.) I have a heat pad that only heats up to 80-82 degrees. Will a thermostat set for higher temps make it warmer, or do I need a new heat pad? It is an exo-terra desert medium.

2.) I have a new animal that likes to push the substrate away from the bottom and lay right on the glass above the heater. This scares me, but I wonder if it is ok since I have never heard of anyone puttine some sort of protective thing between the glass and the snake (that's what substrate is for). Right now I'm using aspen, but it would be no problem for the snake to go beneath paper towels, newspapers, etc. What do you think?