Hey Val, that Old Crota has been busy this year, lol. Doing some fine work. Tell him I said congratualtions on the speaking date. Awesome book and photography too, loved it.

As far as males and communal brumation, I don't doubt it a second. In all the years I have kept and worked with these guys I have kept pairs of males together many times, always do, and have never seen a problem. Even if I have a couple females in the enclosure with them during breeding season. Each male will mate with the females, and sometimes I even see one male encircling the other and trying to breed him lol. I have not seen any stress to either male. After all is said and done everyone returns back to the basking rock and bask together.

I see more grabbyness or little squables over food between FEMALES than I ever see with males.

I do not push this to new comers that want to keep collareds, as far as keeping males together. But obseving all these years I think most of what we read about them just is not 100 percent right in most cases.

Also many have said collareds do not get lonely or need a cage mate.... I say how the hell would they know unless they too were a collared???? LOL
I have seen them together and they are active, and content, and seem like they are enjoying themselves and interacting.
I also have observed when all the others are taken out and one is alone, there is a BIG difference. Sometimes the one does not come out as much to bask, does not jump around as much or all in all looks a bit lost. Put a cagemate or two back in and watch the difference , it's almost joyous to watch.... lol

Thats my take on it all. :0)

Here is a photo taken a couple weeks ago of a group of NM juveys, they had 3 different hides in their enclosure, but when I lifted this hide up there they are were in a Happy Heap, sleeping, heads,,, feet and tails everywhere... very CONTENT

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Eve
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