idk about the heater. It's not going to kill the snake to do it off and on, after all, snakes in the wild have to survive nights with no warmth.
I do that with my lizard, he is a native lizard to where I live and I don't leave his heater on constantly cause it's not... natural. Though I make sure my room is warm enough to keep him comfortable. He's very healthy too.
Maybe that helps?

I second the cake idea. xD