really your best bet if you are going to do that because that pad is so thin get a thermostat that way you can regulate the heat correctly. I believe any of the smaller ones will work fine for what you are needing then you can ditch the CHE and just use the UTH but you have to have some way to regulate that things heat or you will wake up to a cooked snake. Also keep in mind that those Zilla things need to be cleaned really well because they hold junk in them. good luck with what ever you decide to do.