well thinking of getting a rat snake already have my two boys and got a spare tank on the go sooo....i thot why not although if i wer to get one it is around 6 months old and wud come in a RUB the woman said i would only need a het mat...but i thot i needed a stat too?? am i right?

__________________

A stat is best. If you can't stretch to it, you [should] be ok. Make sure the mat is attached to the back not the bottom of the vivarium and only on one side.

This will give a good warm/cold gradient the snakes need for comfort. A heatmat on the bottom especially without a thermostat could create a big heat build up and could either overheat the mat, or the vivarium or both.

Yes, you`re right, you absolutely need a thermostat. Without one, you risk burning your snake badly, or causing neurological problems, as the mat can get too hot.

Yes, it probably won`t get to hot, but why risk killing your snake in a rather unpleasant way?! Stats are an absolute, absolute necessity IMO.