this is from another thread (on this forum) "Hi Im in the UK too , heat mat at bottom is fine. I have been doing this over a year . As long as you use thermo to keep temps set You are fine. On another UK forum there are peeps saying They cannot get temps with heat mat on side, and frogs move around. As long as you are checking frog wont get harmed. Temps should be 80-85 day 76-79 night as a guidline. Having mat on the side wont get this in the UK . I even have to use a ceramic heat bulb on top of mesh of exo terra he is in, or my temps are under 80"