yeah they won't get hot enough to melt the plastic...if the heater is hot enough to melt the plastic.......give me your snake (kidding)

Cut a large hole in the top of the rubbermaid and drill small holes around the hole. then, get some wire mesh and put the wire mesh over the hole. Use a heat lamp over the mesh....yeah, the heat lamp may get hot enough to melt the plastic. but a heating pad, no. If i had a digital camera, i'd snap a pic of my snakes home and post it...