I believe heat mats are best, or if you are scared, heat cords, as the animal is in closer contact with the heat source and so less heat is lost along the way. Some sort of thermal mass is desirable so the heat doesn't "blow away" which can happen if the heat is captured in the air. i use ceramic tiles. I don't think snakes need a lot of air movement so the use of too many vents can waste heat. I have never lived under a rock nor in a burrow or even a cave but I suggest the air movement is minimal and the temperatures remain more stable as a result. So from a heat efficiency point of view timber cages are more insulative than glass; conduction (contact) heating is better than radiant heat; a larger cage is better than a small one (but with a small heated area) baffle walls assist with providing this. I got involved in keeping snakes as just another challenge. I have kept and bred fish, birds and most mammals in significant numbers. I enjoy the logistical challenge of minimising inputs to achieve a desired output,which i did successfully when i kept 1000s of snakes. Some might say my snakes weren't happy. I don't know!
There is always a compromise between "pleasing" the snake and pleasing the keeper. I believe most snakes would be happy to never see their keeper as long as they are the right temperature and have food from time to time and water. Keeping reptiles is a extravigant hobby and we have a duty to minimise the resources used.
P.S How do I put spell check on all this?
