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I just finished an experiment with a few borrowing species doreanus,niloticus,albigularis, exanthematicus.
My interest was to understand why they do it?
A. avoid predation?
B. Keep hydrated?
C. Thermoregulation?
All these are good reasons to borrow, however my captives stop this behaviour when a 24/7 heat source was provided.
Monitors where kept in naked cages with only a branch, water bowl and dirt. Basking lights turned off by a timer, night temperatures dropping to low 70s, under these conditions monitors would dig and conceal themselves a few hours before the lights off, monitors submitted to natural light did the same. However when the basking was kept on full time they stopped borrowing entirely, instead preferring to sleep near the heat source at preferred temps.
In such conditions my monitors started feeding more aggressively and became more inquisitive of my presence, less shy.
Doreanus the shyer specie became trusting of my presence and acted much like exanthematicus behaviourally, clawing at the glass until food was offered, showing no sing of stress or flight behaviour.
Just sharing notes
