Ackie cage

[Crypto136]

what would be a good cage size for an adult Ackie

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[jbd123]

DRZrider helped me out alot with my baby Ackie's enclosure. They need lots of space and very tight crevices to squeeze into. Check out Pro Exotics Reptiles, the Nation's finest captive bred Snakes and Monitors, your source for Infrared Thermometer, Temp Gun., it's quite informative.

[DRZRider]

Thanks jbt123

4 feet by 2 feet by 3 or 4 feet high will work for a pair. They are very active monitors and will use every inch of space available to them. They will climb, dig, and run around so you will have a lot of entertainment watching them. Give them plenty of sandy loam dirt substrate, too. Ten inches of dirt should be good enough for them.

I kept mine in a 4X2.5X4 foot enclosure with plenty of climbing limbs, tight crevices, and deep dirt.

[jbd123]

I knew you'd come to the rescue. lol

You're an expert with ackies!

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[DRZRider]

You're an expert with ackies!

HAHA I wish that were the case! Thanks though.

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[jtmoney]

What is: Sandy loam dirt substrate and where can you get it. I know its sand/clay/dirt but what exactly is it and where is it best to get it?

Also if I was going to get a ackie as a hatchling would it be fine in a 4X3X4 enclosure?

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[Crypto136]

where can i get good dirt i cant get it from my backyard because it has been treated

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[jbd123]

I currently use cocosoft (basically a dirt) mixed with about 25% sand so it holds burrows. I would be safe and get regular topsoil (no fertilizers) and playsand and mix it about 75:25 with each other. Yasu, my ackie, seems to enjoy it tremendously. I like my cocosoft better than topsoil because he's just a hatchling and he's not quite strong enough to break through the gritty topsoil: cocosoft is extremely fine dirt and it holds moisture very well. Be sure to keep the humidity pretty high for your baby!

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[Crypto136]

ok can get it at Lowes

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[DRZRider]

Also if I was going to get a ackie as a hatchling would it be fine in a 4X3X4 enclosure?

You will probably want something smaller for a baby since they are tiny. 4x3x4 will work for a pair or trio of adults.

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[Crypto136]

So im thinking of getting a pair now so I decided to build a 5x3x4(lwh) is that ok and should i house hachlings in the same tank if so what would be a good size

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[jtmoney]

Im making a 6X2.5X4 tank and I posted that on different boards and they gave me a hard time ... sigh!

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[DRZRider]

Originally Posted by jtmoney

Im making a 6X2.5X4 tank and I posted that on different boards and they gave me a hard time ... sigh!

Be careful on some of those sites. People with little or no monitor experience like to give advice. Actual breeders don't brag about breeding except to show new eggs or hatchlings.

6X2.5X4 will work just fine.

Many ackies have been bred in water troughs (much smaller that what you want to build) from agriculture stores with solid tops on them. Larger can be better, but there are many other factors that come in to play. ie: will the entire area be useable, will the temperature be too low, what is the temperature deep in the substrate, humidity, hides, etc.

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[Adrya]

If you get sand though like playsand, make sure it has no silica in it.

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[jtmoney]

Originally Posted by DRZRider

Be careful on some of those sites. People with little or no monitor experience like to give advice. Actual breeders don't brag about breeding except to show new eggs or hatchlings.
6X2.5X4 will work just fine.
Many ackies have been bred in water troughs (much smaller that what you want to build) from agriculture stores with solid tops on them. Larger can be better, but there are many other factors that come in to play. ie: will the entire area be useable, will the temperature be too low, what is the temperature deep in the substrate, humidity, hides, etc.

Thanks for the reinsurance. Im new to monitors as you know. Their cage will have tons of climbing space and stuff to climb on. SO they will be able to use their whole cage so in the end they are getting more space!

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[DRZRider]

Originally Posted by jtmoney

Thanks for the reinsurance. Im new to monitors as you know. Their cage will have tons of climbing space and stuff to climb on. SO they will be able to use their whole cage so in the end they are getting more space!

Excellent! That is what matters most.

Don't forget about the 10 to or more inches of sandy, loamy dirt. Subterranean space is just as important as space above ground. Most people forget that they live underground alot. You should see all the burrows my argus have. Tunnels go everywhere. It is very cool.

[jtmoney]

Originally Posted by DRZRider

Excellent! That is what matters most.
Don't forget about the 10 to or more inches of sandy, loamy dirt. Subterranean space is just as important as space above ground. Most people forget that they live underground alot. You should see all the burrows my argus have. Tunnels go everywhere. It is very cool.

They will have 12-14 inches of sandy/loamy dirt! Already fit that into the enclosure

[Crypto136]

Anyone there?

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[jtmoney]

Originally Posted by Crypto136

So im thinking of getting a pair now so I decided to build a 5x3x4(lwh) is that ok and should i house hachlings in the same tank if so what would be a good size

From what I understand, that cage size will be fine but dont house the hatchlings in there as it will be too big. House them in a 20 gallon. I am going to house a trio of reds in a 75 gallon just because I can get it really cheap.

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[Crypto136]

Ok thanks

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