I do not use a heat mat. Our BP is in a 100 gallong acquarium and I made my own lids with wood and plexiglass that have holes drilled for ventilation. I use a large dog dish for a water bowl, have a hot side and a cool side, and have a perch that is just offset of the heatlamp. This gives our girl a cooler side, a warm hide as it gets some partially heated from the above source. The perch acts as a heat mat if she wants belly heat. I check everything about every other day with a digital temp gun to make sure her perch isn't to hot as well as her other temps. She pretty regularly uses her available space to regulate temps, before and after eating, and during her shed cycle. I'm in western Washington so most often we have a little higher ambient humidity so her tank stays nice and steady. We get one piece shed and have a very content snake.
Now, you may need a mat or you may not. It works for me but it will ultimately be up to you on finding the right equipment that will offer a safe and properly temp/humidity controlled environment.
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