RecoveryLizards
Ackie monitor care guide
Varanus acanthurus
A dwarf monitor with big-monitor intelligence. Deep diggable substrate and a very hot, tight basking surface are non-negotiable.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
Ackie monitor enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult ackie monitor should live in at least 72" L × 36" W × 24" H; we build toward 96" L × 48" W × 36" H (8 × 4 × 3 ft, roughly 32 sq ft of floor and about a 718-gallon glass equivalent).
Substrate depth counts as much as footprint — build the cage to hold 18–24 in of soil.
- Hatchling / baby
- 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 18" H
- Juvenile
- 72" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 48" L × 24" W × 24" H
- Adult
- 96" L × 48" W × 36" H recommended · min 72" L × 36" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
A cluster of halogen floods over a stone stack, dimmer-controlled — monitors need a small, intensely hot spot.
- Basking / warm surface
- 140–160°F on a tight rock/basking stack surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 90–95°F ambient
- Cool side (ambient)
- 75–80°F ambient
- Night
- 70–75°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: T5 UVB 10–12% across the basking zone (UVI 4–6). Run lights on a 12–14 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–80% inside the burrow, drier at the surface. Keep the lower substrate damp enough to hold a tunnel; the surface can stay dry.
Substrate and depth
Topsoil / play-sand mix (roughly 60/40). Depth: 18–24 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Rock/slate basking stack
- Deep burrowing substrate
- Cork tubes and clutter
- Water bowl
- Enrichment feeding puzzles
Build list
- 6–8 ft cage rated for deep substrate — The enclosure must physically hold a couple hundred pounds of soil.
- Halogen flood cluster + T5 UVB 12% — A hot, bright basking surface drives digestion and activity.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bulk topsoil/sand blend — Burrows are where an ackie spends most of its life.
Ackie monitor FAQ
How big should an adult Ackie monitor enclosure be?
At least 72" L × 36" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 96" L × 48" W × 36" H — about 8 × 4 × 3 ft, or a 718-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Ackie monitor need?
Basking or warm surface 140–160°F on a tight rock/basking stack surface, warm side 90–95°F ambient, cool side 75–80°F ambient, night 70–75°F. A cluster of halogen floods over a stone stack, dimmer-controlled — monitors need a small, intensely hot spot.
Does a Ackie monitor need UVB?
T5 UVB 10–12% across the basking zone (UVI 4–6). Photoperiod: 12–14 hours.
What humidity does a Ackie monitor need?
60–80% inside the burrow, drier at the surface. Keep the lower substrate damp enough to hold a tunnel; the surface can stay dry.
What substrate is best for a Ackie monitor?
Topsoil / play-sand mix (roughly 60/40), at a depth of 18–24 in.
How big does a Ackie monitor enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended, minimum 36" L × 18" W × 18" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own ackie monitor record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.