Ackie Monitor (Varanus acanthurus) Care Sheet
1. Overview & Commitment
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Common Name: Ackie Monitor, Spiny-Tailed Monitor.
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Size: 60 – 75 \text{ cm}.
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Lifespan: 15 – 20+ \text{ years}.
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Temperament: Highly intelligent, active, inquisitive, and socializes well when kept properly. Diurnal.
2. Vivarium/Enclosure (Floor Space/Burrowing Focus)
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Minimum Adult: 150 x 60 x 60 cm. Emphasis on floor space and rigorous security.
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Recommended Housing (Ireland): Custom PVC or heavily Sealed Wooden Enclosure is mandatory for maintaining the high, stable heat and deep burrowing substrate.
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Substrate Depth (Crucial): Provide a minimum of 30 \text{ cm} of a damp, compactable substrate (soil/sand mix) for their mandatory burrowing.
3. Heating & Temperature (Crucial)
Ackie Monitors require very high basking temperatures and stable ambient heat.
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Basking Spot (Surface - Mandatory: 50C – 60C. Use high-wattage halogen or mercury vapour bulbs connected to a dimming thermostat.
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Cool Side Ambient: 24C – 27C.
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Burrow Temperature: The temperature 15 \text{ cm} down in the substrate should remain around 29C – 32C.
4. Lighting & UV (Mandatory)
- UVB Light: High-output 10% or 12% T5 linear fluorescent tube is mandatory over the basking area.
5. Humidity & Hydration
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Ambient Humidity: Moderate, 50\% – 60\%.
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Burrow Humidity (Crucial): The deep, damp substrate creates a high-humidity environment within their burrows, which is essential for proper hydration and shedding.
6. Diet & Feeding
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Staple Diet: Should primarily be insects (Crickets, Locusts, Cockroaches, Mealworms, BSFL).
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Caution: Avoid rodents as a staple, as a high-fat diet can lead to health issues.
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Supplementation: Dust food with Calcium w/ D3 and a multivitamin regularly.