Thanks for replying Zephyr - I think that's interesting as the Tstat probe cannot be placed in the tank due to the no-tape rule, and I didn't think about suction cups. Even if the thermometer probe is placed on the floor beneath the substrate, I'd think the snake could get tangled in the wires and eventually knock stuff over or get frustrated?
I don't think snakes can get tangled in thermometer wires, they're made to be put in reptile cages. The probes are flexible but don't really wrap around stuff so I don't see how a snake can get in a situation where it can't just crawl out.