Varanus Acanthurus (Ackies)

[SnakeyJay]

Hi everyone.. I'm currently trying to prepare myself for my first foray into the world of varanids and ackies seem perfect for us with their smaller size. They're amazing lizards and I'm trying to learn what I can before we make a final decision..

However here comes my problem because as usual, everywhere I look has differing information. So I was wondering if anyone who keeps ackies could help me out with some resources or just general advice/tips.

I wish to stress that I'm not looking to be spoon fed information but I do want to find the right info. I'm looking for ANYTHING ackie related.. Whether it be general husbandry, advice/tips to research papers/studies carried out in relation to these stunning reptiles..

Thanks in advance and any help much appreciated. :)

Jamie.

[SnakeyJay]

Come on guys/gals, somebody's got to know a good site to start looking at :)

[jarich]

Sorry Jay, I dont keep Ackies so havent gotten really into depth with finding a good care sheet personally. I think generally they have pretty similar requirements regarding temps, humidity, substrate, diet etc as most terrestrial monitors. The major difference I think is that they can be kept in smaller enclosures, of course. I can contact a few breeders I know to get their opinion on the best care sheet, but I have heard them recommend almost an identical set up to the Boscs.

[Pirarucu]

Jarich is correct, their requirements are almost identical to those of a Savannah Monitor, but on a smaller scale. Of course, they certainly will put a large cage to good use, like any monitor.

[SnakeyJay]

I got a care sheet link sent to me in a pm by Wayne so I've started reading that.. So if I take some of the info of Wayne's Savannahmonitor.net on a slightly smaller scale then all should be good?

I've been reading the monitor threads on here lately and trying to learn what I can without interupting but I was struggling to know what applied to ackies and what didn't... Thanks for your replies guys :)

[Barlow]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/93747-ackie-care-requirements.html

[jarich]

Ha! Guess you need look no further than here. Thanks Barlow.

[Pirarucu]

I got a care sheet link sent to me in a pm by Wayne so I've started reading that.. So if I take some of the info of Wayne's Savannahmonitor.net on a slightly smaller scale then all should be good?

I've been reading the monitor threads on here lately and trying to learn what I can without interupting but I was struggling to know what applied to ackies and what didn't... Thanks for your replies guys :)Or on a larger scale, if you're able to. Put some ackies in a large cage and sit back with a bucket of popcorn..

[SnakeyJay]

Or on a larger scale, if you're able to. Put some ackies in a large cage and sit back with a bucket of popcorn..

I like the sound of this.. :D this is all way in advance as I won't be able to house them until I move, and that will be a while off. I'll give them as large as I can realistically give them and let them have fun with it.

[SnakeyJay]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/93747-ackie-care-requirements.html

Thanks Barlow, that's much appreciated.. I'm off to bed now so I'll read it in the morning.

[Lankyrob]

I kept one but in what i now know are substandard conditions, i can guarantee that you will love them but dont do what i did :)

[SnakeyJay]

I kept one but in what i now know are substandard conditions, i can guarantee that you will love them but dont do what i did :)

We all make mistakes rob, I'm sure when it's time you'll make a fresh start with one.

[Lankyrob]

We all make mistakes rob, I'm sure when it's time you'll make a fresh start with one.

I agree, i followed what i thought was best at the time but now know better, it wont happen again on my watch :)

[Gatorhunter1231]

Nice link barlow. Follow barlows caresheet and you should be golden. You have to be willing to adjust when needed though. Remember caresheets are just guidelines. I would suggest a trio out the gate. Watching them act with each other is amazing and if all things go good then you could hatch out a few babies yourself.
Most common are red and yellow ackies.

I think I have 18 red ackies right now running around and they all have their own ways of doing things ;)

[SnakeyJay]

Nice link barlow. Follow barlows caresheet and you should be golden. You have to be willing to adjust when needed though. Remember caresheets are just guidelines. I would suggest a trio out the gate. Watching them act with each other is amazing and if all things go good then you could hatch out a few babies yourself.
Most common are red and yellow ackies.

I think I have 18 red ackies right now running around and they all have their own ways of doing things ;)

Sounds great.. However I don't like the idea of breeding.. Purely because I'd only just be starting out with varanids I know I wouldn't be able to guarantee good homes for the baby ackies..

[DiscoPat]

I have heard Ackies do good in trios. Also I think the minimum enclosure size is around a 5x3x4. I saw a thread about someone building an enclosure for Ackies and they used what looked to be a giant cattle water tub. It was about 6 feet long or so and 4 feet deep. They filled it with dirt and then built a supporting frame around the whole thing with plywood and lumber. It seemed like a great idea.

Here is the thread. It also has a lot of information on raising Ackies
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/94845-getting-ackies-need-advise-suggestions-3.html

[SnakeyJay]

Cheers mate, I'll give it a read thru :)

[Gatorhunter1231]

If breeding was as simple as putting three ackies together then there would not be a limited supply. Incubation is a tough thing to conquer when dealing with monitor eggs. They build a social group in trios and its pretty cool watching them interact. You have at least 8 months before any breeding could take place.

[varanus1]

I have heard Ackies do good in trios. Also I think the minimum enclosure size is around a 5x3x4. I saw a thread about someone building an enclosure for Ackies and they used what looked to be a giant cattle water tub. It was about 6 feet long or so and 4 feet deep. They filled it with dirt and then built a supporting frame around the whole thing with plywood and lumber. It seemed like a great idea.

Here is the thread. It also has a lot of information on raising Ackies
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/94845-getting-ackies-need-advise-suggestions-3.html


Pairs are much easier for new starters to keep.You have to support them, watch behavior and such just right to run higher numbers together without loosing any.

Here is a pic of my ackie enclosure i keep a pair in.
http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/varanus1/IMG_20130125_103957.jpg

[varanus1]

If breeding was as simple as putting three ackies together then there would not be a limited supply. Incubation is a tough thing to conquer when dealing with monitor eggs. They build a social group in trios and its pretty cool watching them interact. You have at least 8 months before any breeding could take place.

I have to disagree Incubation is the easy part its nesting is the part to conquer. If nesting is right she will drop her clutch with in 30 days and you will have a healthy clutch thats easy to hatch

[DiscoPat]

Pairs are much easier for new starters to keep.You have to support them, watch behavior and such just right to run higher numbers together without loosing any.

Here is a pic of my ackie enclosure i keep a pair in.
http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/varanus1/IMG_20130125_103957.jpg


That makes sense.
Where did you get the tub that acts as the base of the enclosure?

[varanus1]

That makes sense.
Where did you get the tub that acts as the base of the enclosure?

Sent you a PM

[SnakeyJay]

A pair it will be then... :) three seems a bit much to keep a eye on for the first time really.. I don't want to jump in at the deep end, as it will be the Ackies that lose out if I did.

[Gatorhunter1231]

The reason most go with trios is to make sure they actually get a pair. A trio raises the chance of getting a pair. The extra gets sold (extra male normally). Two males my have dominance issues in the later years. Just getting two up front leaves a good chance for getting two males. Just a suggestion. I'm not throwing in a sales pitch or anything since I'm testing genetics on all my babies to figure out this strip thing (in case someone thinks I'm pushing 3 for potential sale).
I disagree with nesting being the issue with early mother ackies. My first clutch was laid 8in down in a fish tank. Since then I have had them laid in tubs (12in down). Properly laid eggs are stronger and have higher hatch rates but most newbies kill a few batches of eggs before they getting things sorted out. Actually several guys on another site have been getting several clutches of eggs but have not conquered hatching any. 90 days is a long ways to go when you don't have any experience to base it on. Newbies can't tell if eggs are turgid, dry, etc. setting up a proper incubator is tough in itself. I have had small incubators pop eggs from of air pressure and humidity changing dramatically. Lots of little things.

[varanus1]

I remember you now your the one who produced stripped ackies right. Cool how is that project going ?

[Gatorhunter1231]

The stripes are doing good. One is pretty large and one is on the smaller side. Neither is the largest or smallest out of 9. They seemed to be pretty average. I'll try to get some updated pics this weekend.

[Pirarucu]

The stripes are doing good. One is pretty large and one is on the smaller side. Neither is the largest or smallest out of 9. They seemed to be pretty average. I'll try to get some updated pics this weekend.Get some of everyone else too!

[SnakeyJay]

It's amazing actually getting to see a first in ackies.. Hopefully you'll keep everyone updated with pics of these guys :D