Varanus Acanthurus (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/varan...estions-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]

Originally Posted by 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/varan...estions-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.

[varanus1]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by varanus1

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.

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

[varanus1]

Originally Posted by DiscoPat

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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