Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey everyone, im interested in getting my first monitor. i think an ackie. ive done a lot of research but since people in here own ackies i figured i should ask you folks. what shold i have housing wise? and how often should i feed them? are they happy being solitary or should i get 2? if they eat mice can they be f/t?

thanks for the help in advance.

Tony (818)

I don't own any ackies but will give you a congrats. You are one of very few people making a choice of something that will be good"" as a first monitor. Most people come on here saying I want to get a large monitor and they look cool.
Congrats again
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Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

haah thanks a lot. i just figure they would be easier to accomodate than a species that gets much larger, and from what i understand you have to get to know a monitors personality and its better to first realize that from a small monitor than a large one.

Hi, great choice for a first monitor. Some of your questions will depend on what your goals are. You can house them very simply in a trough or build a large display cage with mock rocks and such. It depends on what you are hoping to get out of the experience. You can house a single animal but if you plan to breed them you are probably best off getting more than one to start. F/t mice are fine, I only feed insects alive.

Cheers

i want to observe their behavior, as natural as possible. im thinkin a naturalistic setup for them ya know. can i get some opinions on this. im not planning to breed. what kind of insects are most commonly fed? roaches?

Hi

Mine are in a semi-naturalistic environment, by that i mean that they have a range of different hiding places spread across a variety of different temperature zones..they tend to use all the secure hiding place at varying times dependant on how they feel i guess.
The non natural side of things is that the hiding places are all stacked peices of board (Have FR to thank for that of course)
I wouldnt advise trying to replicate outcrops of rock with tight crevices and the such unless you are seriously experienced at building and can 150% guarantee that everything is secure....even the most secure of rocks of any type have a nasty tendency to slip.
The desire to make things natural can often hinder the practicality of providing an animals needs in captivity unfortunately.
Sorry...didnt mean that to come across as a lecture...more of a different view point

Cheers