It actually started by testing temps. I made a stack for hatchling pyros, and they without question taught me.

I always attempted to offer choices, based on my age. When I was a kid, they kept snakes at 72F and that was it. Most died, or feed a few times in the summer, but never did much.

Then one of my first jobs was at a pet shop. I sold a lady a baby cal king(in 1965) She asked how should she keep it, I said, keep in warm and feed it.

8 months later(or so) she came back in the shop and I asked, hows that king. She said fine, she said, its three foot long now. I said, WTF and more, I asked what did you do, she said, I did what you said, I kept it warm and fed it everyday.

So I set out to redo what she did. It took years, but by the early 70's, I was doing that and breeding kings at 18 months or less. Then Had one breed at 9 months of age.

Then I set out to accomplish that with other species of colubrids, boas, pythons, lizards, torts, turtles, and lastly varanids. Of course, varanids responded the best to choices.

The actual point is, nature DOES NOT OFFER one small set of temps. IN ALL CASES, it supports the populations of reptiles with much higher temps and much lower temps and the species use their adaptions to SEEK WHAT THEY REQUIRE.

So my task became, how can I support any species maximum range of temp or conditional choices, not the minimum.

Along the way I have set all manner of growth and reproductive records and longevity as well.

At this time, I have a 36 inch thayeri that's 10 months old. hmmmm cheers

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