You guys try to pigeonhole the term social the way it applies to totally different groups of animals: insects, mammals and primates. Instead of going by a standard that is suitable, for..heck not even monitors, just reptiles would be ok.. you guys compare monitors to ants, likely the most social animals on the planet or advanced mammals. Why not look at animals that they are related to and compare social aspects that way. Reptiles don't need to raise their young together to be considered social, but if they do repeatedly choose to be in each other's company (better yet in physical contact) when given the option to be away from one another, that leads me to believe that they are showing social tendencies. I truly don't understand why some folks don't get this. This is basic stuff, basic common sense for anyone who has any real experience watching these animals. This brings up another important point... people who have kept reptiles in captivity and have seen them in nature for...hmmm, lets say decades, through repeated experience, come to realize that herps express the behaviors that they are designed for (nature) in captivity, they aren't programed with a whole different set of built in captivity behaviors, all of their captive behaviors are based on the abilities they are programmed with (instinct), or have learned (but based in instinct). Yet, the ones who troll here to bait Frank don't seem to understand that. They don't seem to get that these animals come to the table with a set of basic behaviors that they utilize (when allowed) or eventually die.



The reason that this is so frustrating to read over and over again is that those who offer sound advice on captive husbandry are having their credibility questioned, by those who offer no practical information at all as it relates to the poor monitors in the care of the noobs on this forum. Kids listen to those who have the fancy initials after their names (specifically PhD) when in reality the theory that they offer as advice is worthless as it applies to the care of these captive monitors....and the monitors keep dying. Provide sound basic husbandry and your monitors will act in ways that is clearly social. They are social because mother nature has programmed them with that set of behaviors that they can express in suitable conditions. Sorry for the rant, but is getting rediculous.



Will

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