Baby Red Ackie Dwarf Monitor

Ackie monitors make arguably one the best pets in the monitor family. They are intelligent, curious, and bold monitors that love to explore and hunt.  Ackies can become hand tame and learn to identify their owners with regular interaction.  
 
Ackies can be skiddish and shy as babies due to their fear of predation, but quickly become bold and interactive around a year old combined with regular interaction making them one of the most prized pet monitor species.
 
Belonging to the subgenous Odatria, these Australian dwarf species grow to be about the size of an adult beaded dragon and are easy to car for. A single adult can thrive in as little as a 40 gallon breeder tank.  Pairs and trios can be kept in a 48"x24"x18" or larger enclosure. 
 
These hardy monitors enjoy a diet of mostly live insects with the occassional eggs, meat, and mice offered sparingly.  With good husbandry, ackies can live to be over 15 years old! The bulk of their diets consists of calicium dusted live dubia roaches, crickets, superworms, and wax worms.  Dust with vitamins twice a month. 
 
It is recommeded to feed babies plenty of live medium to large crickets for the first 3 months. This is their favorite snack! Baby ackies will eat 5-8 crickets per day on average. 
 
If fed well, ackies will reach adult size in about 30 months, and sexual maturity in as little as 9 months. 
 
A mercury vapor uva/uvb light is recommended for this species with a basking / hot spot of 120F-160F and ambient temperature in the mid to low 80's.  
 
This species enjoys burrowing and semi-moist hides.  Provide at least 4-6" of damp, but not wet, substrate. This will provide the needed moisture to shed properly and protect their toes from dead skin damage. I recommend a 50/50 blend of coconut fiber and washed play sand for substrate and nesting box material. 
 
Ackies enjoy climbing and exploring tight spaces.  Provide layered slate and bark structures in your enclosure to ensure a low stress environment for your ackie to explore.