ackies swim/soak

[ackies rock]

do ackies swim and soak at all, just wanted to no.

[mr~python]

no, ackies do not soak at all. infact if your ackie is soaking it means your husbandry is incorrect. tey soak for a few different reasons: 1, the cage is to hot. 2, the cage is to dry. 3, the cage is too drafty. some people recommend soaking ackies but all it does is stress them out and its just a band-aid solution to poor husbandry.

[ackies rock]

but u do have to give them a bath right?

[jglass38]

no, ackies do not soak at all. infact if your ackie is soaking it means your husbandry is incorrect. tey soak for a few different reasons: 1, the cage is to hot. 2, the cage is to dry. 3, the cage is too drafty. some people recommend soaking ackies but all it does is stress them out and its just a band-aid solution to poor husbandry.

Seems this is quite debatable. I am not sure who is right here but I figured I would offer this for reference:

http://proexotics.com/care_ackie.html

[mr~python]

yes, Jamie. it is debateable. some people soak, some don't. it does help with stuck shed and hydration but if your husbandry is correct it isnt needed. it stresses the ackie out to soak him so IMO its desireable that you give him proper husbandry as opposed to soaking him to fix things due to poor husbandry.

ackies rock, no. you do not have to give them a bath if your husbandry is correct.

[jglass38]

yes, Jamie. it is debateable. some people soak, some don't. it does help with stuck shed and hydration but if your husbandry is correct it isnt needed. it stresses the ackie out to soak him so IMO its desireable that you give him proper husbandry as opposed to soaking him to fix things due to poor husbandry.

ackies rock, no. you do not have to give them a bath if your husbandry is correct.

I like a good debate! So my question, not knowing a thing about Ackies, would be, why is your info correct and theirs isn't? They say that soaking should be done every week regardless.

[ackies rock]

does anyone no how much a 20 gallon tank is?

[mr~python]

i got a 20 gallon from petsmart for 40 bucks. when you set it up you want to cover most of the screen lid (i use aluminum foil) to keep heat and humidity from escaping rapidly and dehydrating the cage and your monitor.

LOL, Jamie. bring it on! ok, if your husbandry is correct, your ackie is shedding fine, and is hydrated there is no reason to soak because it does stress the ackie out and we all know you dont want any unecessary stress with reptiles.

now, say you were slacking off with keeping the soil moist and that was your fault, then you would soak because you dont want the tip of the rail or toes to die of constriction from unshed skin.

see, its a band-aid solution to poor husbandry that is only needed if youre not taking optimal care of your ackie.

[ackies rock]

wat kind of heating/basking lamp should i use or what works good

[mr~python]

i use a 45 watt halogen flood light. the only source of heating that would work would be overhead heat from a bulb, or CHE.

if your getting an ackie hatchling i could tell you how i set up mine in a 20L if you'd like.