Oh I'm so glad I misunderstood about that rock. Those heat rocks are just plain bad news. The lamp while providing heat is also sucking out humidity like the very devil, making issues with glass tanks all the much worse. Underbelly heat is preferred, better for the snake, easier for the keeper in my opinion.

Pet store people, other than the rare good store/good employees, are not the "experts" they like to pretend they are. Getting a confirmed gender on that snake is best done by either probing or popping by a herp vet, a breeder or an experienced hobbyist. Guessing by tail length or shape or spurs is never the way to go (which is what I'm figuring the pet store person was referring to). Since it's a guess, well they are about 50% right LOL