Ackie monitors

[ANIMALGUY]

Wondering if anyone in here have experience with these and could give me some info on there setup.

[Skiploder]

Wondering if anyone in here have experience with these and could give me some info on there setup.

Instead of writing a mini version of War and Peace, please check out:

http://www.varanus.nl/

http://www.varanus.net/forums/

http://www.herpcenter.com/ackie-monitors/

Search through the posts and read everything you can about ackies and their husbandry - these animals require specialized care and if you are considering one, you need to understand every aspect of that specialized care before you buy one.

Stay away from most of the care sheets you will find on the forums. I wouldn't use the majority of them to pick up dog crap with.

[jmugleston]

Ours are kept in 4x2 troughs and 4x2x2 custom cages. Cages have 8+ inches of bedding (a dirt mixture consisting of mulch, shredded bark, topsoil, and sand). Decorations differ for each cage. One has stacks of plywood under the heat light giving the lizards a range of out of sight basking options. Another has slabs of bark and weathered logs. The difference is for no other reasons than both work for what the lizards need and I had some random supplies as I was putting together cages. Directly under the lights is about 130-150 degrees F. Ambient is in the 80s. The websites above offer quite a bit of more specific information. We've been breeding them for a few years now and I think they are the best of the pet monitors. They act like the big guys, but in a much more reasonable size. They eat a lot though. Much more than our other lizards so be prepared. Ours are fed primarily insects, but I'll throw f/t mice in there occasionally.
Here are a few of ours from our most recent clutch:

[slayer]

I keep mine pretty much the same as jmugleston. 4'x2'x2' solid enclosures. Heat/light provided by 45 watt halogen flood lamps. Substrate is a beach sand/top soil mix (about 70/30). All cage furnishings are cork, light weight slate, terra cotta and wood,bark,limbs from the woods. The temps range from ambients in the low 80'sF to high 90'sF and basking surface temps of 130F-150F+. The diet ive been feeding them lately is about half crickets and half chopped up mice, though I normally just feed crickets.

[Aes_Sidhe]

I was almost making similar post but seeing this I gonna ask some questions here especially that Skiploder and slayer looks like they know what they write... (seeing that slayer successfully breeding them he for sure know what he write)

I'm not a novice in reptile husbandry but this will be my first monitor and I'm still tor apart between Ackie and Timor.

From what I read so far Ackie are more curious and more active they are enjoyable to watch dont spend that much time hiding... I have few questions considering beginning of care of that Specie.

Firs question is about Starting Enclosure.
1.) I have 40 gallon breeder tank sitting empty.... Is that gonna be sufficient as starting enclosure for single or couple baby or juvenile Animals or i should consider something Bigger...

2.) When I Should switch to bigger enclosure and with way i should go.. more ground space or more highs ??

3.) About bedding... Is sand and dirt mix really the best and necessary or can i go with different bedding... I was thinking about Douglas fir bark... is great for burrowing looks nice and is easy for spot cleaning.. can i use it ??

4.) About lighting.. I was thinking about ceramic heaters as main heating source. is UVA or UVB necessary for that specie ??

5.) Feeding... What is start diet for that animals.. How much and How often they eat.. how they diet change as they age...

6.) i herd that some people give they monitors bath.. do you give you ackie bath if yes what kid of benefit animals have from that.

7.) Humidity... I know that Timors require high one.. from what i read Ackies are from drier part of Australia... what level of humidity is optimal for them...

8.) Is a difference between husbandry/behavior and size of Yellow and Red Ackies ??

9.) And last one what is a price of baby or juvie animal right now.. and when You are able determine sex of animal if i wanna buy pair in the future..

Thanks in Advance for Your answers..

Rafal.

PS. I know that is not such a think as beginner monitor.. but can you recommend any other small monitor specie beside Ackie or Timor???

[Ga_herps]

To start the 40 breeder would be just fine for babies and juvies, but I would definitely plan to go up in cage size as they mature. once they are about 7 months or so they should be ready for a larger enclosure. I would go with enough floor space but make sure you have enough of a lip or depth on your enclosure to house atleast 6 inches of soil mixture. I use a mixture of play sand(washed), bed-a-beast, and top soil. Basking spot is a must, but uvb is not needed at all. I have raised tons of monitors including ackies with no uvb exposure. Feeding everyday to every other day is my frequency. I feed Roaches(dubia and discoid), crickets, and pinkies. The only other thing they get occasionally is boiled eggs. Mine get a soak once a week atleast and I do have a water bowl in each enclosure(keep an eye on it because they will dirty it up). Ackies of both types get the humidity from the moistened soil which should be maintained at a proper level without being soaking wet. The size of red ackies is a little larger then most yellows, but both are not large at all. Pricing for babies and juvies will vary, but I have seen them from 120 to 250 bucks apiece. You can probably find better prices, but I would pay more to get breeder direct. Determining sex can be tricky at first, but males with age get larger heads, and have prominent vent spurs on either side below the vent. I think I covered everything, but if you need anymore info please feel free to PM or Email me.

[Ga_herps]

Forgot to add that ackies are an okay beginner species as long as you can properly care for them. Be sure to maintain proper temps, and have a good soil layer.

[Aes_Sidhe]

Ok I looked on some info and I see that they need actually substrate where They can Dig burrow and that burrow doesn't Collapse.... I heard that People Using Decomposed Granite.. What do u think about IT .. and Where I can Buy that Stuff??

Still I need answer about feeding How often and How much they eat as babies and how they diet progress as they Mature...

Any thoughts What kind of Commercial cage I can Use for Them ?? i actually kind of like Acrylic granite From big apple herps...

What About Cleaning.. U do Only spot cleaning or You change part or Whole Layer of substrate and on what time interval

Thanks again.

Rafal

[slayer]

I
Firs question is about Starting Enclosure.
1.) I have 40 gallon breeder tank sitting empty.... Is that gonna be sufficient as starting enclosure for single or couple baby or juvenile Animals or i should consider something Bigger...

............................... Thats should be fine for a pair of juvies. Make sure you replace/modify the top so its solid and holds the all important heat and humidity in.

2.) When I Should switch to bigger enclosure and with way i should go.. more ground space or more highs ??

.................. I would personally move them to their adult enclosure after 4 months but a 40 breeder could last for maybe 6-8. Give them as big an enclosure as you can. Ackies are very active and curious monitors that will use every square inch of space you provide them.

3.) About bedding... Is sand and dirt mix really the best and necessary or can i go with different bedding... I was thinking about Douglas fir bark... is great for burrowing looks nice and is easy for spot cleaning.. can i use it ??

...................... You could use it but I doubt the Ackies would. Ackies like sandy, breathable soil with very little organic matter in it. Id go with a mix/soil that replicates that as best as possible.
Heres a couple of burrow/dirt pics

4.) About lighting.. I was thinking about ceramic heaters as main heating source. is UVA or UVB necessary for that specie ??

................... I dont like CHE and would never use them with any animal again (a few bad experiences in the past) personally I use 45 watt halogen floods and 60 watt incandescent bulbs for all my lighting/heating.
As far as UV radiation, its not needed as long as they are getting sufficient dietary D3 and heat.

5.) Feeding... What is start diet for that animals.. How much and How often they eat.. how they diet change as they age...

.................. Alot of bugs with some rodents.
With my Ackies there is always something to eat at all times in their enclosure.

6.) i herd that some people give they monitors bath.. do you give you ackie bath if yes what kid of benefit animals have from that.

............................ Nope.

7.) Humidity... I know that Timors require high one.. from what i read Ackies are from drier part of Australia... what level of humidity is optimal for them...

...................... The general humidity level of the air above the soil line in my setups is about 50-75%. Obviously the humidity in their burrows is much higher.

8.) Is a difference between husbandry/behavior and size of Yellow and Red Ackies ??

..................... Reds are said to be a bit nippier and larger then Yellows. Husbandry is the same.

9.) And last one what is a price of baby or juvie animal right now.. and when You are able determine sex of animal if i wanna buy pair in the future.

.......................... Ive seen yellows advertised anywhere from $150-$225 each. Reds $250-$350 each. There is no way to reliably sex young animals. Best advice if you seek a pair if but a group and raise them up.

I know that is not such a think as beginner monitor.. but can you recommend any other small monitor specie beside Ackie or Timor???

...................... Kimberly Rocks and Tristis are both readably available C.B.B. Odatria that make good captives. Ackies are still the best thought

[slayer]

I heard that People Using Decomposed Granite.. What do u think about IT .. and Where I can Buy that Stuff??

.................... Ive heard nothing but bad things about decomposed granite ( it hardens/compacts like concrete after a while) id avoid it.

Any thoughts What kind of Commercial cage I can Use for Them ?? i actually kind of like Acrylic granite From big apple herps...

................... There really is no commercial reptile caging that will work for monitors. Your going to have to get inventive. I use cattle troughs.

What About Cleaning.. U do Only spot cleaning or You change part or Whole Layer of substrate and on what time interval

......................... The natural bio activity of a good soil mix and the millions of soil mites that live in that dirt take care of nearly all the enclosures cleaning by its self. Various other detritivores, isopods and a monthly rinsing of the cage furnishing take care of the rest.