heating question. Ceramic bulbs vs UTH

[Sophi]

Quick question regarding heating my two snakes enclosures. I've got a California King snake and a ball python. While cleaning my snake eenclosures the other day I found that the under the tank heater in my king snakes tank was very hot. My temps say it was around normal range but when I touched the glass it felt like it might be too warm. I use aspen bedding and my king loves to bury herself in it and would have her belly right against that glass a lot. I don't want her to burn herself but touching the mat almost burned my fingers.

I unplugged my under the tank heaters and switched my heating sources to ceramic bulbs. I leave them on all night because they don't emit any light.

I have read that snakes benefit mostly from belly heat and don't frequently bask, so I'm worried that heat bulbs might not be the best for them.

I'm also concerned about bulbs making the tank too dry for my ball. She spends a lot of time in her water dish, but she does seem to bask when her light is on.

Is it crucial for them to have constant heat, or just day time heating?

I'm still pretty new to snake keeping, I'm just trying to figure out the best way to keep them healthy.

Should I switch back to heat mats, and if so how can I keep them from burning my snakes?

Thanks