First of all Diamond Pythons are NOT a tropical boid. Second of all I've NEVER said I'm keeping all my boids outside but I am experimenting with a few. So far I've kept and bred both Diamonds and Cuban Boas outside here now for the last 2 years. I believe it would be possible to keep many species with only a simple 75 watt bulb in the retreat box by ALLOWING THEM TO BASK IN THE DAY AND CHOOSE THE TEMPS THEY WANT TO BE AT. The key is allowing them to bask. The Cubans were out last year also with only a 75 watt bulb in their box and all females are gravid and NOT one got sick. On a cold day here in the winter it normally gets into the low 60's for a high temp. The snakes can bask and absorb heat and when I temp gun them their body temp is in the high 80's to even the 90's on a cool day. You do not keep them cold all the time. They are outside. Our average high in Jan. is in the 70's and our average low in the 50's. I've jus explained to you how to do it. Undoubtably for some species this might not work but for many I think it will work and work well. I did keep Sanzinia and Acrantophis madagascariensis outside this winter with a 75 watt bulb in the retreat and they also did NOT get sick. They were surplus and now sold but they did just fine. Everyday like clockwork they would crawl out and bask. You know you sound like some folks when I told them I was going to keep CYCLURA OUTSIDE YEAR ROUND IN THE 70'S. I was told the lizards would likely die and now people even much further north than me keep their Cyclura out year round also with great success. All of this is interesting and I'm learning a lot of stuff I didn't know and it keeps it fun for me...thanks

p.s....BTW I only turn the 75 watt bulbs on if the temp is going to dip below 45 degrees
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

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