Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, after all this info I've come to this for my new ackie cage. 40gal breeder, screen top covered with foil except for the basking site (also started doing this for my frilleds, and need less heat sources now, thanks!), 50 watt basking bulb, hide stack designed by two very strange people (to make it more interesting and secure, not to mention dark) 8 inches of regular old yard dirt (was very tempted to spend cash on nursery soil and peat, as I have a problem when I buy a new reptile-I don't feel right unless I go broke in the process.)Small water dish, extra hide box on cool end just to cover bases. I'd send a photo when I get done but am terrible w/ computers and have no clue how to buy things on them, much less use one to take a picture. All of the info was great and pondered extensively while I should have been concentrating on work. Any more input would be great, and I will seek Kaizen(constant improvement) throught the new monitor's life.

First, there is no verdict. Which is a good thing from what you said. The verdict comes at the end of the monitors life. (the quality of life)

Your simply going for a start, a base to learn from. Two things, the lite should be in the cage. Then you can use less heat and create a greater temperature range with the benefit of less dehydration. And you do need some ventilation. Some perfer ventilation on the sides, some on the top, me, I could care less, in fact i perfer it to be my poor craftsmenship, hahahahahaha.

Dirt from your yard, could be horrible(very high percentage of that), if your pretenting to do research, then your first step should have been to read all about the species you intent to work with. There are little bits here and there in hundreds of books. But, you will find that ackies are bound to certain types of soils. Types of soil found in the desert, you know, poor draining arid land soils. The kind many cactus need. Even there they live in pockets that have two main elements, sun exposure and soil type. Even species/types of ackies that live in areas that are not considered desert, in the top end and the kimberlys, monsoonal areas, they to, only occur in areas of draining soil. So if your yard has nice rich soil thats great for growing grass and flowers, then that is the wrong stuff.

Also consider, the deep dirt everyone is recomending is mainly for nesting, your hatchling will not be nesting for some time. Yes, dirt for a substrate is great for exercise(burrowing). But if you ask me the right question, should you use dirt with a hatchling, I may not give you the answer you want to hear. I would say yes, if you already knew the right type of dirt, but if you have no idea, then I would say no, take a different approach. You see, the wrong dirt for hatchlings is a quick death. Baby anything, do not have the ability to withstand our goofy errors. And surely giving them the wrong dirt is goofy, to them.

About the Retes stacks, Robyn had nothing to do with them, he simply borrowed the idea from us. We used them before Robyn knew what ackies were.(no offense, please). But I don't mind as I like all inventors, borrowed the concept from someone else. I just don't know who. I burrowed from the fella or fellas, that kept pilling tin and wood and other such garbage all around nature and the edges of nature. You know, the places one would go to find snakes and lizards. Those snakes and lizards use trash piles(tin, wood, etc) for the exact same reason and intent as a captive reptile uses Retes stacks, thermoregulation, moisture controll, and security. Yes, I used them with colubrids and pythons way before I knew what an ackie was.

By the way, if you really want to break your bank, as you said, then you may consider getting two or three ackies, because if you asked around, the real joy in keeping ackies is watching how they interact with eachother. The deal where they constantly put their arm about the other is amazing. Also, because they are insect feeders, its just as convient to have two or three as one. Sometimes way cheaper(buying insects in bulk).

So good luck and save your verdict for later or just can the verdict, as most likely you will not keep them long enough to have one. FR

Mkay. This reminds me a lot of turning in my first English compositon in college. I think the professor has an interest in my success, but my illusion is fast reduced to the reality of him not giving a hoot. The piece of advice on hatchlings and substrate is useful. I thought I mentioned that it was a hatchling, but apparently not. If I did mention it then I apologize for not being clairvoyant and asking the right question. There has been a lot of praise for "regular old dirt" on this forum lately, and it's use was well argued. I did realize where ackies come from, and also was told that sand was a poor container of moisture, which you did say was very important, if not the most important thing. Doing research is a relative term when it comes to dealing w/ an expert like yourself. You go to Australia and see how they really act. That would be nice for me, but just not real practical financially right now. My research is admittedly limited to the web and some likely less than up to date books, but it is hardly pretended. If the monitor dies, then hats off to you and your brilliant prediction and vast all-seeing intellect. I have a difficult time believing you'd get real joy out of such an occurence,but could be fooled by your condescending tone. I respect yor knowledege and reputation greatly and consider everything you write. It's just a bit discouraging when brilliant resources like yourself have to take cheap shots at well-meaning people who all but beg for good information.

I have no desire to be combative on this site. It is probably the crappiest thing about the forum. I'd like to have the knowledge you've amassed, but like everybody else need to start somewhere. I also appreciate replies that make me think and offer choices. I don't want you to take my replies the wrong way, but also take no joy in being portrayed as an irresponsible keeper. Ingnorant and green may be true, but I'm not out to buy animals and intern them in death camps.

At this time, I do not care about you, or know you. But in time and your the kind of person I like, we could be friends. But as of now, your only a bunch of letters like so many other letters on a computer screen. At this time, I am concerned about your ackies/s. I am most likely the grand/keeper/father of it/them.

So in many ways I am a bit(how sad) like your english prof., in that, there are an endless supply of new students. But we different after that. Your Prof, got paid for teaching you, I don't. I can only hope for a better life for your monitor.

If your insulted by me, then your not really interested in keeping monitors. In time, your going to be insulted really bad and really hard, by mistakes you make with your monitors. I fear your reaction to that. If this is how you react to me.

You did well with asking questions, but that is only the first baby step. Next is figuring out what is the right method for you and your monitor. Then the real problem occurs, that is, applying this new found awareness. That is where that little old texan would say(Perot) "THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD". So don't cha see.

Your verdict is what I responded to. Verdict was not a verdict. In was in all reality a rough draft. That is something you really need to understand. Your cages will always be rough drafts and are in constant need of improvement. So the word verdict is the wrong term.

The adjustments I proposed were and are valid. but instead of concentrating on those, your now worried about how rude I am, or not? or If I really care about you. I don't yet. You may turn out great. But what about those adjustments?

So please do not worry about me, worry about you and your charges. I will do not good to worry about me. It also makes no difference what I think about you, as long as I offer sound choices for you to consider. It may do some good if you worry about your monitor. Cheers FR

Sometimes humans(me included) think of themselves more then just more experienced in a subject(any subject). The poster is not giving you advice on your people skills FR, nor is he demeaning your intelligence. He is asking for advice on monitor and his methods. Ive noticed some Monitor experts feel they need to be-little a person who asks for advice before they give it, or dont give it at all. Im not trying to make you feel bad FR, but if you treat people this way your not going to find yourself a girlfriend

She had scales and ate bugs, but now she has found someone better that can fertilize her eggs.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

she still loves me, she only used him as a sperm donor. The little witch, hahahahahahahaha(for those who don't know, the girlfriend is a wild pet lizard) FR

I'm not mad, just taken a bit off guard. If you have published books of information or experiences, I'd be glad to pay for them. If there was a school of reptile husbandry, then I'd gladly pay tuition and attend. Unfortunately, until then, this is the better pre hands-on way for people like me to obtain good info. Verdict was admittedly a poor choice of words. My bad. I myself enjoy arguing semantics, and that was a shamefully gaping opening. As for now, the rubber is about to meet the road, and despite what you might think, I still value your advice.
Regards.

I would think its painfully obvious that I do not think about the people when I post. I think about monitors.

It should be very easy to understand and common sense why. I know the monitors and do not know the people. So my posts are about monitors. Of course the opposite is true of whom I may be posting to. They know people and not monitors, so they indeed make it about them. Now isn't that easy to understand. But again, no one ever asks that. They simply are better suited to think FR hates them and all people. I may carry some bagage concerning how monitors are tortured by people in captivity(specially when all they care about are their own feelings)and the methods are already out there. For instance this egg hatching thing. Its done everyday, I know, we do it. Others do it everyday. Its been published by zoos until they cannot see strait. Yet, people act like its a mystery. My guess is, people love misteries.

I also carry some negative bagage about Mister Sciences, because there are lots of reptiles that are in dire need of help(conservation and education) Yea, they waste their valuable education and time (suedo) studying reptiles(tristis and glauerti) that are in no need of either conservation or education, what so ever. Then come here and worry about my proven understanding of monitors. Thats again why I call them mister science, instead of a more respectful term, biologist. Remember Australian reptiles are great, but please understand, they, Australia, do the best job in the world of protecting their animals and they have a negative growth in population. Which means, there are many animals in far greater need of studying and protection. I would think our american MS's could be running around here in front of bulldozers and learning and saving lots of our creatures who are disappearing in the wind.

So off in the field I go for another day of wonder. Also, there are reasons I do not write(its permanent or at least taken that way) And why I do not read others caresheets. If I read them, I may start thinking they are right(I too, am only human and we are taught to think that), the way it is now, everyday is a new day. As it should be. FR

Those bad bugs you mention are found in poorly maintained collections, on animals from sellers that were a bad choice to buy from not from your backyard dirt.
You do have to research the soil types for a monitor species or for that matter a lizard species. Depends where you live and the soil type it may or may not work, I use 2 different soil types for my 2 different species of monitor, and one adapted a bit differently on a beardie, also my wolf spider uses yet another substrate. If you get the wrong type they wont dig or burrow, or use the stuff it is useless.
It seems strange someone always points out the bad points of outdoor substrates (such as bad bugs, pesticides, etc) but give an example of how anything found in outdoor substrate has ever caused a problem with a reptile in captivity, Ive never seen it in around 20 years of keeping reptiles nor has anyone Ive known. Ive read in books where authors have said "be careful of using outdoor substrates because of pesticides and parasites", but this is an opinion of an author from back in the dark days of monitor keeping when they were more commonly kept like snakes (oh, I forgot many people to this day still do it).