You don't want to put any tape in the enclosure with the snake. They will find a way to get stuck to it. You can alternately use a couple dabs of hot glue. It is non toxic and dries in seconds.
Don't think that by using thicker substrate it will prevent the snake from sitting on the glass. They can and will lay on the glass at some point. This is why a thermostat is needed for use with under tank heaters.
Stevepoppers is right about the probe placements. The thermostat probe always goes outside so that the snake can't move it. The thermometer probe always goes inside the tank at the hottest point the snake can reach (right on the glass over the UTH). You want this temp to be no hotter then 95*. I keep mine around 92*.
If you want to use a CHE, place the thermostat probe for it in the tank toward the upper middle of the tank. You don't want it all the way on the ground because anywhere above that could be much hotter. The middle of the tank on the wall where the CHE is should work. You might need to try a few different placements until your temps are stable. I would do all this without the snake in the tank. You can put it in a small storage bin while you play with the temps.
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