Acckies, Red vs. Yellow

[Minkness]

Does anyone have experience with these guys or their differences? Not looking to get them any time soon, just thinking about it a few years doen the line.

Also, would a 5x2x2 be big enough for a pair, or just one? Or...would even 1 need a bigger enclosure?

[sirtalis]

It could probably house pair, keep in mind they need about a foot of substrate so the actual height would be closer to 3 feet, Looking back I think I should have gotten an ackie over my peacock monitor :P Check out savannahmonitor.net Even tohugh it is written about savs it works for any species of monitors. Here my run down of ackie care :)
5Lx2.5Wx5H feet enclosure
about a foot of sandy bioactive substrate (play sand mixed with soil from outside)
60-90% relative humidity, in their burrows it should be closer to 90% in the visible part of the enclosure more like 60%
Basking spot of 120-160 f, I recently saw my monitor basking @ 170 f
ambient should range from mid 70's to mid 90's (cool end 70'sand warm end 90's)
You should provide enough visual cover so that it can move form one end of the cage to the other end without being seen.
Taming should be strictly hands off, would you tame a wildcat by just grabbing it or putting it in a bucket of water, no that just creates a negative relationship and eventually the animal will let you handle it because it just gives up :( ( some taming methods shock me :P) (savannahmonitor.net)
By hands off I mean sitting by the cage and letting it get used to you, putting your hand next to it and letting interact with you if it wants, and of course build a positive relationship by tong feeding.
Food should 50% insects (dubias, hissing roaches, crickets, and various worms) 25% mice/rats and another 25% variety, egg, other reptiles, birds, etc, (egg should be fed in moderation and it also should be fertile)
I hope this helps if you have any other question please ask :)

[Minkness]

Are the eggs that can be fed raw or haed boiled?

[sirtalis]

Raw quail is the best, and it should be fertile, in all honesty it would probably better to never feed eggs at all mainly because there are so many better foods

[murrindindi]

Raw quail is the best, and it should be fertile, in all honesty it would probably better to never feed eggs at all mainly because there are so many better foods

Hi, it`s perfectly acceptable to feed eggs on a regular basis (best fertile), they are an excellent addition to the diet. The notion that a cooked egg has no nourishment value is ridiculous, that suggests that we ourselves should only eat raw eggs (though obviously they will lose some nourishment value if cooked).

[murrindindi]

Hi, I would suggest a minimum enclosure size for one single adult of around 6L x 3W x 3 to 3.5H (feet), bearing in mind they will be spending possibly close to 20 years in that tiny space....

[Minkness]

Thanks for that info!

Is there a difference (other than color) between reds or yellows? Males vs females? Are these 'personable' monitors?

[murrindindi]

Thanks for that info!

Is there a difference (other than color) between reds or yellows? Males vs females? Are these 'personable' monitors?

Reds can reach around 75cm (males) yellows usually get up to around 60cm (males).
As with many captive Varanids you mostly get out what you put in in terms of tractability (lots of time and patience) but no guarantees, except if you don`t try you won`t succeed, but YES it can be done!
Edit: I think you could keep an adult pair of the yellows in an enclosure of around 6L x 4W x 3.5H (feet), but bigger is always better..

[Minkness]

Good to know! Thanks guys! Will probably revisit this in a few years XD

[sirtalis]

Hi, it`s perfectly acceptable to feed eggs on a regular basis (best fertile), they are an excellent addition to the diet. The notion that a cooked egg has no nourishment value is ridiculous, that suggests that we ourselves should only eat raw eggs (though obviously they will lose some nourishment value if cooked).

Well learn something new every day :) One problem I've had with raw eggs is that he/she walks through the egg and then the whole enclosure smells rotten for a day or so