Welcome aboard, Chrissy. If you haven't seen Alan Francis' website yet, it's a great place to start gathering information, but for starters, the temperature that the snake experiences (at the bottom of the cage, unless you have a basking spot near the top) is the most important. Also, abcat1993 makes a good point that your snake will need a while to acclimate to warmer temperatures before it will eat. Make sure there are plenty of small hiding spots (like under the leaves) to give the snake a sense of comfort while it acclimates. They like to feel the the edges touching them. Have fun,
Rick
Alan's Garter Snakes - Maintenance of Garter Snakes