Here's what I do and I've NEVER had a problem.

I use newspaper. Usually if you lay it flat, they just sit on top of it. I do have one snake that will burrow between the layers, but it doesn't crumple. I also give them small, heavy duty dog bowl dishes as water bowls. The are small enough that the snakes cannot soak. The snakes don't need to soak all the time. In fact, that's a sign that they have mites or are too hot. When they go into shed, I put a very thin layer of cypress mulch (I buy a HUGE bag from Lowes and it costs $4) and just mist it twice a day. I've always had perfect sheds.