Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering if anyone can explain the difference between the two types of ackies I've seen listed. Are they in fact distinct subspecies? Are the colors actually just subjectively determined? I've seen "yellows" that looked quite red. Are there other physical/behavioral differences?
Finally, can anyone point me to a good caresheet on this particular species?
Thanks.
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Edward
Carpe diem

Hi Edward,

Reds and Yellows are different species but are in the same complex I believe. Kind of like the Gouldi Complex or Prasinus, etc. There are more to these monitors than just colors. Like head shapes in the gouldi complex, size differences and perhaps skull differences in the Prasinus.

Reds have patterning on the side of their necks, typically grow to a larger size if they are pure and the ones being compared are pure.

You apply the same husbandry to both, although my yellows showed more of a tendency to climb than my reds do. If you scroll down, I am sure you will find lots of tips on them. Keep them hot, keep them hydrated, let them dig, provide tight spaces and feed them and you will have happy ackies.

cheers, andrew

Different subspecies, same species. Reds have larger tail spines, a pattern on the head and neck, black spots inside of their patterned light dots, thicker head shape or build. Yellows can be reddish brown, yellow, black, all pattern colors, no pattern on head or neck, smaller tail spines, no dark spots inside the light dots on pattern, and can supposedly get larger if the type called western giant yellows.
Ackies are awesome, they are all captive bred and born here in the US, yellows range from $90-$250 each and are commonly sold by many dealers as reds to get a higher price from them (look in the classifieds here you will see a few yellows for sale as reds. Reds are between $250-$400 each and are less common in many cases, are very bright red (if you clean them good, they love to dig and burrow as all ackies should).
My red ackie digs 1-3 burrows in a days time then a day later will refill them and start over. Mine lives off of hundreds of crickets a week, plus lobster roaches, and an occaisional (once every month or less) piece of meat, for some reason he will eat a day old quail once every few weeks and no more.
This is a red ackie all dirty, eating mouse guts that came from a larger monitors carnage...