Garter Snakes and Temps?

Question

We recently purchased a garter snake when we purchasing things for him at the pet store the employee recomended we bought this box marked snake starter kit. It says garter snakes cages can range from the high sixties to the middle eightys in temp well we were told he would need and under the tank heater for the night and heating lamp during the day to give him heat and the day/night effect. We live in arizona and were wondering if his cage (which has a thermometer) stays in the low mid eightys can we leave his heat off he gets sunlight when we open the blinds.

Answer 1

It's important to have not only warm enough temperatures, but also a temperature gradient so that the snake can thermoregulate by getting into warmer or cooler areas as he chooses.  Ambient should be at least mid to upper seventies, and he needs a basking area in the eighties (easily achieved with the appropriate heat lamp.)

Window glass blocks UV, but an aquarium in the sunlight could get warm enough to be fatal.

In Arizona, maintaining adequate humidity will also be a concern.

Best of luck.