We took Suki and Neph for their first check-ups on Saturday. Good news - they're both healthy animals except that they have worms. Administering the medication should be interesting. New news - Suki, who we thought was a female, is a male. Neph, who I thought was a male and Smulkin thought was a female, is in fact female. So I stink at determining gender in reptiles.

The vet is supposed to be experienced in reptile care, but he said a few things that confounded Smulkin and I. First - when he was examining Suki, he said his lung sounded good. I've read that BPs actually have two lungs. Second - he said that both snakes require UV lighting. All of my reading has said that BPs do not require UV lighting because they get all the calcium and vitamin D they require from their food. Is this an old way of thinking or a new one? Third - he suggested heating the enclosures from the outside using a regular space heater with a thermostat spliced into it and attached to the inside of the tank. Do any of you use this method?

I'd especially like to hear from some of you that have kept snakes for years and raised them to full maturity.