Under the tank heaters...show me your set up please

[Eric Alan]

...prevents snakes and burrowing reptiles from pushing substrate aside and resting on top of the glass directly above the heater, resulting in possible burns! Using newspaper, paper towels, or any similarly light product in place of a substrate is not appropriate with this kind of heater, and such use will void any and all guarantees and release Zoo Med from any liability for damage to product, property, or animals.

As others have said, your heat pad did not malfunction. It worked exactly as intended. You need to take the proper precautions to use these heaters appropriately for ball pythons.