i got a new viv and put the heat matt under one side but the glass is to hot to touch on the floor and i got told i dont need a thurmastat what shall i do
Whoever told you that you don't need a thermostat provided you with serious misinformation. I know of at least one manufacturer that also gives this poor advice. Heat mats can get hot enough to melt down and cause a fire if they malfunction. Even if that doesn't happen, they can get hot enough to seriously burn a reptile, especially one that likes to burrow and may get directly against the glass.
You need, at a minimum, a rheostat or a lamp dimmer cord. This is a minimum requirement. A thermostat is much better because you get much better control. With only a rheostat or dimmer, the tank temp will fluctuate heavily with the room temp because it only can provide a set power level. With an on-off thermostat, the heat mat can be shut off if it gets too hot and will come back on when it cools below the preset temp. You also need a probe type thermometer to check the temp and make sure it is appropriate for whatever species you have in the tank. Check online vendors and your local pet stores. Simple on-off thermostats can be had for as little as $ 40. Probe type thermometers are available at places like Petsmart or Wal-Mart.
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An infrared non contact thermometer or temp gun is a nice piece of equipment to have, but not an absolute requirement. It is great for spot checking temps. I don't know what I'd do without mine. I got mine at Lowe's for less than $ 45 with tax.
@ MyTh
Without knowing what species the asker is housing, this is especially poor advice. Many species prefer "belly heat" for digestion. For those species requiring a high humidity level, bulbs are poor choice because they dry the tank out. Without some method of control, even bulbs can overheat the tank as cause harm or death to what is housed in it.
get rid of the Heat matt and just use a bulb
