Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do argus females pair for life? Just curious.
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hbailey

0.1 argus monitor

I am not sure what you mean by, pair for life? I would imagine many of us would have a different difinition of that.

They do bond to one female, over other females. That is, they were pick out, attend a particular female, choose the company of a particular female. An expression of this is when the male does not harass the female, only breeds when she is cycling. Helps with and guards the nest. Does not stress the female with his presense. Picks the same female year after year.

With females, we have had many only breed a certain male. When we either lost that male or tried to use another for some reason, the female refuses to breed another male and often lays infertile eggs.

We have had this bonding mostly with a pair, but also with trios and small groups.

In these groups, once the membership is changed, the group fails to produce smoothly.

The problem with your choice of words is, its not A or B type of thing, its always about degrees.

For instance, non bonded females may mate with a male only to be killed by it during ovi-deposition, or later. Or, when a pair breeds and then one or the other digs up the nest and kills/eats the eggs. Or simply breeds one year/cycle and not another(inconsistant)

Often times, if you have an adult female, you may have to offer many males. Often the female will pick only one particular male.

Other times it doesn't matter, at least for a short time.

I strive for bonded(good) pairs, not gauged by simple breeding, But by repeated successful results. Cheers and Happy New Years, FR