"The basic deal with reptiles is that they don't need to build up anything where food's concerned before winter starts. Long cold days-" she snaps her fingers, "-sleeping snakes until it's warm again. Whereas mammals need to eat up before they hibernate, because they have to keep warm by themselves."

She taps her fingers along the banister, then adds, "Regular pet snakes don't need to brumate, but you can feel how cold the castle stone gets. Imagine crawling on your bare belly on that for hours. Plus they breed better after a long sleep."