Ackies get about 2 feet long. Their tails are longer than their heads and bodies. Like all monitors they do not drop their tails. They need a rather large enclosure. An adult Ackie reaches between 24 and 30 inches. Most length is from their tail. Ackies are medium-sized lizards.
The minimum enclosure for an adult Ackie is 5′ by 2.5′ by 4′. Juveniles can live in adult enclosures. Ackies cost between $500 and $1000. Their price depends on age, color and breeder.
The Red Ackie grows larger than the Yellow. Their tails are longer. They are smaller than Asian Water Monitors.
Ackies eat insects, pinkies, raw meat, fish and eggs. Variety is important. Give pregnant Ackies food daily. Hatchlings eat daily. Adults eat every other day.
In captivity, Ackies live 15-20 years. Females have narrower heads and smooth tail scales. Males have bulkier heads and coarse tail scales.
Ackies need high temperatures and humidity between 50-65%. They are active and need space. The minimum enclosure is 4′ by 2′ by 2′. Bigger is better.
Are Ackie monitors good pets?
The Ackie monitor is an ideal pet lizard for hobbyists looking to move into caring for an advanced species. These active and highly intelligent lizards need plenty of care. Two of the three Ackie monitors subspecies are sold as pets: the yellow and the red. Both love to dig, climb, and explore. They can live for up to 20 years.
Ackie monitors are medium to large lizards reaching up to 2.1 meters in length from snout to tail. They rely on external heat to regulate their temperature. Ackie monitors are carnivorous, preying on mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. They also eat carrion.
Yellow ackies are one of the best monitor pets to have. They prefer dry, hot climates and burrow to control temperature and humidity. Their name comes from “acanthurus”. They come in red and yellow colors, with red being larger.
Ackies grow to 24-28 inches with males larger. They need a 5’L x 2.5’W x 4’H minimum enclosure size. Like any reptile, diet and care affect health and lifespan. They have a prehistoric look that reptile enthusiasts love.
Ackies are best suited for captive life. They become trusting and docile but can injure. They require a carnivorous diet of insects like crickets and occasionally snack on smaller lizards or eggs. To stay healthy, feed them a variety of foods seasonally.
With the right care detailed below, an Ackie Monitor can be an interesting and fulfilling pet. Pick up using a scooping motion to support its body. Ackies are ideal for people transitioning to an advanced species. They offer entertainment and connect with keepers.
Ackies are suitable first monitor pets with small size and agreeable temperament. At less than 48 inches, they need an elaborately furnished, very tall enclosure to thrive. For their unique look and mellow temperament they make great pets for just about anyone.
Do Ackie monitors like to be held?
Ackie Monitors take well to handling, but they are initially more skittish than other common pets like Geckos. Patience is key to taming and holding. Slowly introduce yourself by placing your hand in the enclosure and let your lizard come to you; it may take several weeks.
Since they come from the dry, arid, regions of Australia, they tolerate up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in their basking spots but will not do well in temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. So, investing in a good quality heater and light is essential to keep your Ackie Monitor in good health. The hotter side of your habitat with a basking lamp should be between 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit with a nice piece of wood or cork bark stack to complete your Ackie Monitor’s basking zone.
Ackies Monitors grow to reach an average length of 24 – 28 inches with males usually being the large. Ackies Monitors like most monitors can live a long time with average life spans of 15 to 20 years if properly housed and maintained.
The Ackie monitor is one of the smallest and friendliest monitors. Ackies keep the eye-catching beauty of a monitor lizard whilst being easy to care for. Their size also makes them suitable for intermediate keepers who want to hold them.
The best materials are going to be ones that hold onto moisture. Ackies monitors use burrowing to get away from the Australian heat. Having a bit of moisture in the substrate will help these lizards cool down and stay hydrated.
On top of the substrate, you’ll need to implement plenty of natural decorations. In the wild, Ackie monitors usually live by rock outcroppings and will retreat to those rocks whenever they feel scared. Use natural rocks to recreate their natural environment. You can also use pieces of wood, cork bark stacks, and even faux caves.
Ackies like to bask, and particularly like very hot pieces of slate or raised basking platforms, so having a raised basking platform underneath the heat lamp is ideal. They also like to warm up in private sometimes, so having hiding areas directly underneath the basking is also important.
Ackie Monitors possess a healthy appetite and will eat just about anything, which means owners should be wise to adjust feedings and treats to avoid their pet becoming obese. Whilst growing Ackies should be fed insects daily, adult Ackies can survive on being feed several times a week.
Are Ackie monitors endangered?
The Ackie Monitor is a species of monitor lizard found in Australia and Indonesia. Of course, the Ackie monitor is far gentler than their appearance would lead you to believe. Although “ackies” is a nickname, herpetologists and animal professionals use to call ackie monitors. The Ackie monitor (Varanus acanthurus) is an eye-catching reptile with a rather intimidating look! Take one look at the Ackie monitor and you can definitely see the relationship! The Ackie Monitor is native to the dryer regions of North-Western Australia. As their name suggests, Ackies belong to the monitor family of lizard. Ackie monitors are terrestrial in nature, spending much of their time on the ground, but they are also semi-arboreal, often climbing trees and rocks. Although ackie monitors don’t hibernate/brumate, their natural habitat does experience a regular period of reduced temperatures during winter.
Ackie monitors are medium to large sized lizards reaching up to 2.1 meters in length from snout to tail. They are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. The Ackie monitor is one of the smallest and friendliest monitors. Ackie Monitor Taxonomy. Ackies dwarf monitor. The Ackie Monitor can lay multiple clutches of eggs as long as there is adequate food and the temperature is correct. Crickets, mealworms and Dubia cockroaches should be the main staple of an Ackie’s diet. Its scientific name is Varanus acanthurus and it is sometimes referred to as the Spiny-Tailed Monitor or the Ridge-Tailed Monitor. In their natural rocky habitats, they benefit from the pattern of their skin which serves as camouflage against predators.
The Ackie Monitor, scientifically referred to as Varanus acanthurus, is a captivating lizard species native to the arid regions of northern Australia. The average Ackie monitor size is about 24 to 28 inches long when fully grown. Ackies keep the eye-catching beauty of a monitor lizard whilst being easy to care for. In the wild, color generally correlates with the color of the soil and rocks in their habitat as a form of camouflage. If you want a unique reptile with some quirky behaviors, the Ackie monitor may be for you. Their mild mannered temperament and ease of care couple with their awesome appearance makes their appeal a no-brainer. Can Ackie monitors swim? The Ackie Monitor is native to the dryer regions of North-Western Australia. As their name suggests, Ackies belong to the monitor family of lizard. Do Ackie Monitors tolerate handling? Its scientific name is Varanus acanthurus and it is sometimes referred to as the Spiny-Tailed Monitor or the Ridge-Tailed Monitor. The length of the tail is approximately 1.3 to 2.3 times greater than the total length of the head and body.