Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that you can keep two or three females together. And I know that you can keep a male with a couple of females. And I know that in groups they do display social behavior, but the question is: does it seem to be important to them? Do the ones kept in groups seem to be more satisfied than the ones that have the whole cage to themselves?
Here's the thing. I've had a collared lizard before. Long ago, as in like twenty years ago, back when I knew far too little about how to keep them, so of course she only lasted a few years. That, along with a better understanding of supply and demand making me more hesistant to "rescue" WC collards by handing the dealers money for them kept me from getting another for a long time.
But with breeders being easier to find and shipping being more organized these days, I'm tentatively planning to get one next year. One. I might go for a group if those who know them better than I do think that just one would go stir-crazy, but I'd honestly rather just concentrate on one. If one gets pinworms or something, I don't want to have to medicate two or three times as many unhappy little mouths, for example.
So, is it still optimal to purchase just one baby, or is it inferior to purchasing, say, two sisters? (I'd rather avoid trios, I'm really not looking into starting a breeding colony for offspring that I have no time to find homes for.) Also, does the sex of the lizard affect how well they do alone? I'm leaning toward a male, but I'd prefer to get some insider opinions on the subject.
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0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (Boots)
0.1 Western Hognose Snake (Bebe)
0.1 Cane Toad (Hengo)
0.1 White-Banded Sheen Skink (Minerva)
1.0 Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Queequeg)

Hi Jack, well I keep many as pets, and breed some as well. I can say that one does fine by itself if you chose to go that route. BUT...... on the other hand from keeping them I see that when they are together they bask together , sleep together, and to me, and I repeat, (to me) hehehehe, seem happier, or maybe more natural. More active maybe as they have someone to compete with food and such.

Two females are good, some males when raised together if you never put in a female do okay together, even though I'm not pushing this combination, since some males become territorial and fight, I personally have some together that have remained friendly towards each other.

I wish you all the best in your collared quest. Whatever you get they sure make nice pets.
Suncharmers

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PHEve / Eve