Hi Again, to whom am I speaking, hahahahaha Are two people using the same handle? Not that it really matters.



I think you are talking about two different things. First, I am sensitive to this, so forgive me. Optimum is not the issue. You said, optimum conditions in nature. ITs not about optimum conditions, its about minimum conditions. They are designed for minimum conditions, below that, they fail and are gone. Optimum conditions would be so much support that the whole place is crawling in hognose. hahahahahahahahaha.



So to think of nature as optimum is misleading, with normal choices, they perform well to the minimum conditions.



About prey. lack of prey is not a physical stress to the immune system until they starve to death. And yes, that occurs. But they still have the right temps and humidity to choose from.



Extreme weather can and does kill off thousands to tens of thousands, just like THAT. But is not a real issue for disease. (normally)



Disease and impacted immune system takes longterm poor support. For instance, the immune system seems to be supported by high temps within their temp range. Like up to a degree or so below heat failure. Animals simply move to cool when needed. If they are prevented from moving away, they are dead. End of that story.



Which is the point, their behaviors and needs are not based on the dead. They are based on the ones that make the right choices. The rest are gone. bye bye, see you later.



Next, about a specific point, that is in error as well. What caused that scent gland impaction was most likely a gram-negative infection. That would be the specific cause. The infection took place because the individual had no means to prevent it. Preventing it could be the immune system and antibodies. Or basking to super high temps and going into a cool burrow(native american cure)



In nature, there is two basic parts of a population, with these kinds of reptiles. Residents, ones with a set home range, reliable prey source/s a family and kids, vacation home on the islands, etc. And transients. Ones with a loose home range, not consistant mates and no reliable set prey source. These are bumped from place to place by their own kind. The are normally what feeds the predators(exposed alot) get hit by cars, etc. And they are the most often studied, AS NORMAL. Why you ask, because they are easy to local,



Back back back to the point. One studied revealed these transients did have or carry all manner of disease. Where as, resident animals were clean. So yes, in nature, this stuff occurs, we did not come up with it. We are just good at supporting it. Did I lose you again?

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