Place a thermometer under the basking area to monitor the temperature, which should be kept at 95 degrees.

Create "chill" zones where turtle soak in the sun [photo 2, © Louis Miguel Astudillo];

Temperatures should range from 90°F in the basking zone to the low 70s°F in the cooler area of the tank.

Snakes often move into open, sunny areas to absorb heat from the sun and warmed earth, a behavior known as basking.

Snakes often move into open, sunny areas to absorb heat from the sun and warmed earth - a behavior known as basking.