Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, this is my first time posting here. I frequent RZ. Anyways, I got a tiny yellow ackie on Friday. On Friday he immediately basked, ran around, dug a little, and ate. To be specific, his basking temperature is 154º at its highest on a fake half log. The hot side is about 91º and the cool side is about 79º. The first day he ate (in the order) chopped pinkie throughout the day, a large freshly shed superworm, a dime sized piece of scrambled egg, and a large cricket. For the past two days now, he hasnt eaten anything since. He also barely basks. I have about 3 adult crickets and a couple small crickets in there with him, along with a live pinky. A few superworms are also somewhere in the dirt. I took out the half log thinking maybe it was getting too hot and replaced it with a piece of ceramic tile. When I just took out the log I touched his tail to get him to come out of his burrow (he is skittish, which is expected)and I placed in the tile. He basked on the tile for a few minutes and completely ignored crickets, pinkies, and superworms. Then shortly after he decided to dig under the tile. I lifted it up to see and the bottom of the tile is resting or maybe touching his back, so its not like his other actual burrows. Oh and I also covered up the sides of his tank with paper. I am writing to see what some of the more expirienced here think I should do or if everything is going smoothly(?). Here are some pictures as well (The pictures are from the first day he was here). Thanks alot!
Next to my left pinky finger

-Adam

I think he is getting acclimated. Mine was the same way. Give it some time to itself for a week or so before you start feeding it or disturb it. Monitors take some time to acclimate to there new surroundings, and they like routine. MIne eventually feed on pinky on his own. At first I didn't know what was wrong with the little guy, and now he eats perfectly fine. He may just be hungry on the first couple days that you got him, and now that he is full, he is trying to get use to his new surroundings.

i think he's acclimating also. dont try to handle or touch him at all. when i first got mine he would only eat a cricket per day. once he became more used to his envirement he started eating more. he eats like a pig now! he puts down 12-14 crickets a sitting.

make sure you're little guy has a lot of tight, dark places to hide. i recommend making a Retes stack and putting it under his basking lamp like this:
see how its goes from 3/4 of an inch to nothing? it gives him the opportunity to choose how tight he wants to squeeze into. that was when i first got him and i have a branch propped up against it now for climbing but you get the idea.

for temperature control i use a dimmer.
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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

nice variation on the stacks, i like the application!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

thank you. i cant take the credit though. Mr. Retes taught me that, lol.
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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

Thanks for the input! The thing I just dont understand though is why he would eat the first day and now eat nothing. Maybe I should just put the half log back in then. The tile is currently only getting to about 110º which I know isnt warm enough. I will deffinately make the "Retes stack" soon. He made a beautiful burrow while the half log was in there. But now with the tile, he immediately went under it. Not really digging a burrow, just inbetween the dirt and the bottom of the tile. Which do you all suggest I do? And also a plan of action for the next week or so of exactly what to do would be great. Thanks!
-Adam

i dont know why he would eat the first day and not eat for another two days, but as far as a plan of action i would just make sure he's in the proper envirement, make sure he has crickets to eat if he wants too, and just leave him alone.
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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

I think I may have spoke to soon! Right after I sent that last message I got up to look in his tank, and he was chasing crickets! I saw him catch and eat two. Although I think he may have gotten more when I didnt see. Good stuff!
-Adam

thats great news. my ackie would only eat 1-2 a day when he was acclimationg also. he'll slowly work his way up to eating more.

i wouldn't wait a week to feed him though. make sure he has crickets to eat if he wants to.
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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

Thanks! Thats what I'm thinking too- just make sure he has a constant source of crickets. Also tomorrow I will add more dirt to get the tile higher which will obviously get it hotter.
-Adam

He seems to like going directly under the tile. The only problem now though is that it didnt get hot enough (only about 110º). So I took more peices of broken tile and made a stack with lots of overhangs and crevices. The top surface is reaching close to 115º which is atleast a little better. Also, I still havent seen him bask since I put in the tile. Every hour or so he comes out from under, eats a cricket or two, rests in the cool end, and then goes back under the tile. I noticed he did poop today though. It seems their poops are very small in comparison to their body size from what I have seen with other lizards. Anyways, what should I do? Here are some new pics of the basking area:

Thanks,
-Adam

115 isnt too bad. you only need to raise it about 5 more degrees. what i would do is prop each tile on one side up with something. it will create crevices for him to go into and raise the basking spot at the same time.

good luck with him.
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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

My Savy did the same thing. He would eat at first because he was hungry and then, after, not eat. I would just not disturb it for a week or so, but make sure he has water, and then try feeding him next week.