The Red Ackie Monitor – Varanus acanthurus is one of the most loved lizards by reptile lovers and is considered as the legal pet. Chili red ancestors, these small monitors from parts of Australia can be fascinating animals to keep as pets. This is an unusually colored monitor, the Red Ackie Monitors are well loved due to their red color and other characteristic marks.
This comprehensive guide discusses details of the care and features of these beautiful animals, and offers information about their life span, environment, diet, and bringing up of such animals. It can be rewarding and beneficial to know everything about Red Ackie Monitors whether you are an experienced reptile owner or you are going to have a reptile pet for the first time.
Natural range and Distribution of Red Ackie Monitor
It can be said that it is more relevant to mention the Red Ackie Monitor, Varanus acanthurus Its family is Varanidae and the Varanus is a genus of monitor lizards. These interesting reptiles are mainly reside in the desert and hilly area of Australia North.
Their natural range encompasses the Northern Territory together with the areas in the western and north eastern parts of Australia comprising of the desert areas of Western Australia as well as a small portion of Queensland in addition to the savannahs and rocky grounds. There is little information on the Ackie Monitors’ Red type; they are comparatively small lizards, with sizes ranging from 45-60 cm, including the tail length. As for life expectancy they can live for ten to fifteen to even twenty years of age in captivity provided they are placed in the right environment.
Another appealing characteristic of Red Ackie Monitors is their coloration and they are normally red, orange or brown with black spots and they have certain bands or rings on their tails. They also provide these animals bright colors and striking patterns that not only make them quite appealing to look at but that also help the animals blend in with their surroundings in their environments.
Red Ackie Monitors are characterized by elongated body and limbs and sharp claws: they have a long forked tongue that serves for sensory purposes and Due to this, they are adapted for xeric and rocky terrains.
Legal requirements and laws concerning red ackie monitors as a pet
To select a Red Ackie Monitor as a pet is a wise decision for those who like reptiles. For these or for many other good reasons, these magnificent creatures make several good pet consideration. They are, in general, relatively small, friendly in nature, and have attractive appearance, which contributed to the popularity of these animals among reptiles lovers. But it is essential to know about the legal issues and laws regarding the ones in your area before introducing a Red Ackie Monitor at home.
As a result, while looking for a Red Ackie Monitor it is wise to visit some local breeder or the exotic pet store with good references. These source Genuine product means that the animals are bought from the right place and are well treated. If one intends to make monitor lizards their pets then they should get them from reptile rescue organizations.
The first expenses related to having a Red Ackie Monitor consist of the cost of obtaining the pet, which anywhere from $200 to $500 or more depending on the age, size as well as color of the specific Red Ackie Monitor. Another important investment is the creation of a proper housing for the breeding of the copy.
Equipment such as heating, lighting, substrate and the enrichment elements of a well constructed habitat can go for few hundred dollars and above. Lizard requires safe environment that will correspond not only its physical, but also psychological needs that should be fulfilled as well. Despite the critic and amazing quality of Red Ackie Monitor as a pet, a new owner should be ready for the costs and time he or she may devote to the Monitor’s health and comfort.
Enclosure and Habitat
The kind of environment you put your Red Ackie Monitor plus their habitat is very crucial for their health. These lizards are fairly large lizards and as such need a large cage, ideally the cage should be no smaller than 4ft long and 2ft wide by 2ft high. It is preferred to have terrarium specially made of wooden or glass structure which provides insulation and security.
The kind of substrate chosen is important; a combination of sand and soil or cypress mulch can mimic their habitats in a way. These two factors play a critical role in their well-being and need to be observed If the climate proves to be too severe, their overall health may be affected. In this respect, Red Ackie Monitors should be provided with a basking area that is about 130°F (54°C) with a gradient towards the cooler side, between the mid 80’s°F (29-32°C). An ideal humidity range of 40-60% is important to unleash skin shedding and to maintain a good respiratory health. UVB lighting has to be provided so that the animal can synthesize calcium and build healthy bones effectively. These lizards also get playthings and hides such as rocks, logs and artificial burrows to keep their brain working and feeling secure. Ensuring the Core Husbandry Standards therefore is important in the Red Ackie Monitor care especially through providing the best habitat.
Diet and Feeding of Red Ackie Monitors
Diet in the Wild
Wild bred Red Ackie Monitors are omnivores with their diets varying to comprise of insects, small vertebrates, plant materials, and carrion. It feeds on bugs – including crickets, roaches, beetles, and termites – small rodents, lizards and occasionally plant matters.
Diets and feeding timetable which compiles foods recommended for a human body.
Red Ackie Monitors kept in captivity should be fed with diets that mimics that of the natural diet. Usually juveniles should be fed 3-4 times a week and adults 1-2 times per weekly.
In reference to insects it acceptable to take moderately sized ones such as crickets, mealworms, superworms and even dubia roaches. Small amounts of pinkie mice or veggies and fruits that are safe for reptiles may be given at times for dietary variation.
Gut Loading and Supplementation
The Red Ackie Monitor requires proper gut loading of the feeder insects to afford him or her optimal nutritional value. ?Feeder insects should be provided with good quality food to eat 24-48 hours before they are provided for your lizard.
This is a very important step; the insects need to be dusted with calcium and vitamin supplement. Calcium supplementation should be given every feeding while vitamin supplements should be given once or twice in a month.
Supplementing also enables them to avoid nutritional shortages hence aiding their development and well being.
Behavior and Temperament
Red Ackie Monitors have very interesting activity and disposition that can be amusing and demanding to the caretakers. The two species have been described as curious and very active once they are exposed to captivity. They are usually observed sprawled, wandering around the confines of their cages or burrowing into the surface. Although they can be calm and passive, these creatures’ temper may greatly differ from one Ginger to another. Some Red Ackie Monitors accept being handled and being around people, while there are those that are still shy.
In observing how animals are handled, or quickly socialized, it is always important to exercise a lot of patience. Socialization is another important aspect that should be put into consideration as Regular, and gentle manipulation of Red Ackie Monitor’s themselves from a youthful age assists them in adapting to human contact. But to some extent, one must respect the limits that they have set. The young ones should not be moved a lot nor be grabbed too often since this results in stress or bites.
Stress related behavior includes digging phenomena and attempts to escape from enclosure. These should be addressed by creating a proper setting of the enclosure and proper maintenance to avoid stressing the animals. They observed an individual for signs of illness as this is evident through change of behavior. In general, one has to comprehend and admire the individual temper of any Red Ackie Monitor for arriving at a mutually satisfactory human-animal interaction.
Husbandry of Red Ackie Monitor
Taking care of its health is a great importance while handling Red Ackie Monitor. It amounts to proper environmental conditions, giving appropriate balanced diet, and availability of clean water for health check. A healthy Red Ackie Monitor should be active, alert, have clear eyes and bright colored skin. They are playful, have good appetite and exhibit normal shedding.
It is great to read about health problems that can appear in these lizards – respiratory infections, mites, husbandry related – low humidity, or improper temperature dichotomy. Signs of illness include listless movements, lack of appetite, difficult to breathe or skin lesions, contact a reptile vet who specialises in monitor lizards as soon as possible.
An early identification of all these diseases in your pet and receiving the right care is very crucial.
This post will be all about Breeding and Reproduction in the Red Ackie Monitors.
Reproduction and breeding of the Red Ackie Monitors might prove to be interesting but at the same time sensitive. Usually, resident males are aggressive while juveniles may act submissively; during the breeding period, this species can perform the later of these acts.
Courtship is not without its definite etiquette, during which the head-bobbing activity and the tail-waving activity are performed before mating. Females lay eggs in a nest site after copulation and the substrate must be suitable for incubation. In general incubation period take approximately 90 to 120 days though it depends with the climatic conditions of the area. Since hatching of eggs is sensitive, the temperature and humidity of the incubator must be kept constant during this days.
After the hatchlings come out, they need a safe place and warm enough (with hide boxes if possible) and correct type and size of insects which should be given to them for their further development. The hatchlings must be observed for any sign of illness and if they are sick it is important that they should be treated and fed on the right food.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to cater for the needs of the Red Ackie Monitors, one has to design the cage appropriately to provide the pet’s natural environment, feed the pet appropriately with necessary supplements, and know about the behavior of the pet.
They require care and tender, frequent checkups with veterinarians in order to guarantee their health. One has to remember that pet ownership should not be taken lightly, for these fascinating animals to be given proper care which would help them live comfortably in captivity. As always, information from this website and experienced reptile keepers should be a great help to those who want to be responsible pet owners of a Red Ackie Monitor. But with perseverance and the proper knowledge, you can truly develop one of the most positive and fulfilling associations with these fantastic reptiles.
