a note on temps: I know that some of the temps recommended for certain reptiles seems extremely hot, but if you go to the places where they live, those are the temps they experience.

I went to Australia back in Dec. of '07, the height of summer there. The day we got to Uluru, the temperature was in the low 50s.

50s Celcius I should specify.

There are a number of snakes and lizards that live in that area and thrive. That is some SERIOUS heat they deal with every summer. There are deserts all over the world that experience heat like that, so don't be too alarmed when you see some of the seemingly ridiculously high temps that these animals enjoy.