Is my set up ok?????

[mark cope]

Hello peeps,
My name is mark and I'm from Hertfordshire ,UK I joined this fine forum to-day, Me and my son are new to the hobby.So we are looking for opinions on the set up we have,it's the way we got it from the shop. so if you think we are doing something wrong or generally improve please let us know, by the way the garter is Joes my 7 year old son

This how we store it


The guy in the shop said we should put a heat mat under one end


This inside the viv


And there she is hiding under the greenery Martha the Garter


So like I said all opinions, advice will be welcome

Mark and Joe

[guidofatherof5]

Martha is beautiful.
Are you using a rheostat on the heat mat?
Any chance you can find a longer viv?
Garter snakes love explore and the more room the merrier.

[mark cope]

not using a rheostat....not even sure what it is, as for bigger after looking through site I now know what a RUB is so can probably get a large one of those

[guidofatherof5]

Terrarium Temperature Control: Zoo Med ReptiTemp Rheostat at Drs. Foster and Smith

[guidofatherof5]

Without a rheostat heat mats can run too hot and kill.

[mark cope]

I'm using this heat mat
Heat Mat by Pro Rep | Pets at Home

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to The Pro-Rep.co.uk Website

Product information

ProRep Heat Mats

Heat Mats & Strips produce ultra long wavelength infra red heat. This wavelength is invisible to the human eye and tends to heat furnishings in the cage rather than the air. This action of heating is very similar to the sun and it has the ability to heat anything that it strikes but with the air temperature remaining much lower. Reptiles absorb this in a manner very similar to basking in a natural environment. Heat mats do get warm but provide a very gentle warmth which the animal can sit under or on top of. Used under normal conditions Habistat heat mats cannot burn.

ProRep Heat Mat Diagram

Directions:
Heat mats can be used on the floor or mounted on the wall of the vivarium. When using on the floor on the inside of a cage it is imperative that some safeguards are adhered to. If substrate is used, it should be kept to less than I cm
deep. Many substrates have very good insulative properties (Vermiculite, wood chips etc.) and placing too much over the heat mat will stop the heat getting into the vivarium where it is needed.

The Heat mat should cover 1/3 - 1/2 of the floor space within the vivarium.

Finally
Remember, never install heating and then leave it unattended. Establish that the installation is correct and that the vivarium is being maintained at the desired temperature. Never expose animals to any risk of over heating. Once installed, heating should be tested for a minimum of 48 hours prior to the introduction of livestock. Do not risk the animal's safety!

[mark cope]

Guy in the shop said to put it under the viv so it can't burn the snake.
keeps the warm end between 76-78 degrees
but if you think it a wise choice then I should get one, as it can be used on two vivs I can use the other one for my king snake (the viv underneath)

[guidofatherof5]

Better safe then sorry. I don't trust electrical devices on their own. These rheostats kill the power to the mats if a problem arises.
You could go a little warmer on the warm side in my opinion. What is your room temp?

[mark cope]

70-71 degrees
but heat mat is a set temp (can't make it any warmer)