Hi folks Darren here from mahuk 🇬🇧 a lot of people are searching through TH-camrs looking for information regarding ackies and there welfare, scales 13 is one of the best places to start and definitely a humble gentleman who comes across as honest and more important puts animals welfare first, myself and Brandon from rare earth, provide Steven with information which he credit's to the people that help him, and always tells newbies and people he's learning himself get behind him a genuine person and a gentleman 🙏
I really dig your channel, man. You've got a lot of good info, a good vibe, and Thunder is the best. I'm moving into a house next year (I'm currently in an apartment) and I'm planning on getting an Ackie. I'm doing a lot of research, and your channel has helped a lot. I'm looking forward to going above and beyond caring for one of these very special animals.
Awesome vid! I picked up 4 of those diycages.com 4x2x2 cages and sealed them with silicone. Id love a video possibly reviewing yours and how you set up your substrate and dig box. As well as the handles!
Scales13 yeh that’s a good point, ackies are nowhere near as docile, especially early on, you need more experience or passion. I guess ackies could be “the herpers beardie.”
Not really. Ackies are such efficient hunters they would just dig up the dubias. Mine dig up superworms that I drop sometimes they may last a few days but they never over populate. As long as your not over feeding and dropping food everyday that is.
Scales13 Great video. I love how you are progressing with the craft of doing videos and the content for this one we really interesting and fun to watch. I was cheering for Thunder with the ball. It’s just like watching my rat terrier go after a treat in the same type of ball. Too bad I can’t have a big tank like that where I live. Would love an active and it would love the desert very much. DO you by chance know what the coldest they can live in comfortably? Maybe an outside enclosure would work here.
At night my enclosure dosent drop below 75 degrees. The breeders i talk to told me 68 is going towards the dangerous area. But you want the basking temp upwards 145 degrees for adults. What area 9f the world do you live in?
Getting my juvenile Ackie in 2 days. I have everything ready except for the basking light. I've been having some trouble with the ceramic light fixture that came with my enclosure. It can supposedly handle up to 100W, but I hooked up a 100W Mercury Vapor UV Bulb and the fixture couldn't handle it (It kept turning off after being on for a minute). I looked it up and the bulb apparently has a safety feature where if a fire risk is present it turns off. So I lowered the bulb to a small 75W Basking Spot lamp and the rock under it doesn't heat up at all. So I'm gonna take your advice and buy a 90W halogen flood light from Home Depot or Lowes and see if it does a better job at heating and also see if the ceramic light fixture can handle it.
When doing thing like this gotta remember as well that predators will only spend a certain amount of energy to get prey so keep that in mind when choosing enrichment toys. You want them to work for it but they also need to know it is obtainable or they wont even try. Spoken from personal experience.
I'm thinking of getting a ackie monitor as a pet , i have never kept one or any monitor species and i would like to know wich size or age will be best to search for ( I have found a breeder who has most ages and sizes and a lot of variations ) Btw sorry for my bad English.
Your English is perfectly fine my friend. I got my ackie as a baby. I think its great because you can build the trust at a young age. My Ackie has been with me for about a year and a half now and hes going along very quickly.
@@Bacodela healthy baby ackies are very strong. No worries my friend. And 8 month old is also a good start I just prefer to start my pets from the very beginning. To establish the bond from a very young age.
Hey just rewatching some of your videos and this one specifically im just wondering about the damage done to the ball after multiple uses now that some time has past since you posted this. If any pieces of rubber have came off or if he lost interest in the ball completely. Please and thank you 😁
So far so good. No pieces have fallen off yet. I dont do this practice daily though only about once a week for fun. He defently still goes after it. I think he associated it with food like how some monitor associate shiny things with food after being tong feed for a long period of time.
@@Scales13 thank you for the quick reply and update! My red ackie will be here later today and I got his whole enclosure set up and ready to go. Been waiting a long time for one of these guys.
@@Scales13 I've had him about a month now had a few adjustments I've had to make but other then that all is well. I was giving variety in his diet then he decided mealworms was his favorite so he stopped eating everything else. He was smart enough to realize if he was refusing everything else he would get the meal worms he wanted so I had to stop feeding those for now and only offered him roaches and basically he wasn't going to eat anything until he was willing to take the roach to start eating them again.
Hey scales great video. So its been about 8 months and i cant get my new ackie to come to me or let me pet him without running away from me! So frustrating!! Any suggestions? I feel like he wont ever come to me and be comfortable 😢
Be consistent. Don't force your upon the animal. Try tong feeding let the animal get sued to you being present without direct interaction. It will come to you in time.
@@Scales13 always remembered that not to force yourself on him and I never will do that. I do feed him off the tongs. Just been a while now and still not comfortable with me touching him. Thanks for your quick reply and have a happy Easter.
Thanks you same to you. Also you can try moving is as close as the animal will allow then dropped the food off the tongs. Thats what helped me with thunder.
DIY reptile enclosures. Its a good start if you want to use a 4x2x2 with a dig box or a retaining wall. Other than that I would get a custom build of atleast a 4x3x2 or a 5x3x2 for an adult.
If you want a single animal 5x3x3 is all you would really need. 6x3x3 would be fantastic. Keep in mind the bigger the enclosure the more you have to do with heat.
@@Scales13 I went with a Kages 5x3x3. Going with an Arcadia 51 Watt LED, T5 UVB, a deep heat projector and I am going to experiment with different basking bulbs to figure out how to get to the temps I like. Still have to sort out a new thermostat system but I am looking at Spyder robotics.
For a baby starting them off in a 4x2x2 or a 4x3x2 is just fine. As they grow into adult hood sky's the limit. A 5x3x3 or a 6x3x3 would work will for a single adult or a trio. Just keep in mine the more animals you have the more space they require. Also the more basking and hiding space you will need in order to keep the peace among enclosure mates. Height isn't such a huge deal as long as you can safety add proper lighting and deep substrate.. In captivity some Ackies get injuries from falling so 3 feet in height should be ideal 2 feet from the surface of the substrate. Although they do climb in the wild decor should look like downed trees and rock outcrops rather than a full arboreal setup. I hope this helps.
Latest in Ackie fashion. Toilet paper roll hats!
Hi folks Darren here from mahuk 🇬🇧 a lot of people are searching through TH-camrs looking for information regarding ackies and there welfare, scales 13 is one of the best places to start and definitely a humble gentleman who comes across as honest and more important puts animals welfare first, myself and Brandon from rare earth, provide Steven with information which he credit's to the people that help him, and always tells newbies and people he's learning himself get behind him a genuine person and a gentleman 🙏
Always good to catch up with Thunder. I feel like he’s my pet too, minus all the work.
Haha I'm glad people feel connected to my little guy.
I really dig your channel, man. You've got a lot of good info, a good vibe, and Thunder is the best. I'm moving into a house next year (I'm currently in an apartment) and I'm planning on getting an Ackie. I'm doing a lot of research, and your channel has helped a lot. I'm looking forward to going above and beyond caring for one of these very special animals.
Thats awesome man. Glad to hear it. It defently helped to wait until you have the space. They are amazing rewarding animals to keep.
Awesome vid! I picked up 4 of those diycages.com 4x2x2 cages and sealed them with silicone. Id love a video possibly reviewing yours and how you set up your substrate and dig box. As well as the handles!
Noted ill make a video of that and shout you out
@@Scales13 I have the same cage for my ackie but it is not anywhere near where I would like to be once he’s fully grown
@@trevorjacobson9890 Yeah man. This is only temporary right now the next enclosure im getting it gonna blow this one out of the water.
Such a cool vid, I always love the ackie monitor enrichment videos . They’re like little bird-reptiles (Aka velociraptors)
Absolutely my friend. Which is why they are so enjoyable to keep
Scales13 Agreed! imo they should be as popular as beardies
Yes but they're personality is very different. They not for everyone you need so much more patience for a Ackie
Scales13 yeh that’s a good point, ackies are nowhere near as docile, especially early on, you need more experience or passion. I guess ackies could be “the herpers beardie.”
@@niallmoseley6760 Well said.
Really dig your enclosure
Thanks man!
My ackie is back walking normally again kool enrichment toys nice vid keep it up
Thank man glad your Ackie is doing well.
The ball is such a good idea. I've thought about getting some too but I've only found bigger ones. The feeders would get out too easily
I found this one at petvalu. Nice and sturdy kept him pretty busy.
Awesome Vid !!
Thank you!
Love the video. Watching him get mad at the ball was hilarious.
Haha it was a fun video to make. Defently enjoy watching Thunder use that brain of his.
Nice mic man! Sound quality is so good!
Thanks I worked pretty good for now I want to get some better equipment eventually
Always a great place to get to as a channel when you can monetize and improve the production values. Great to see this channel grow.
Thank you I really appreciate all of your support. Especially you and all the regulars this comment and tune in.
"Broke all my plants so this is karma" literally the exact same sentiment I had with my Blue Tongue Skinks when I gave them kong toys 😂
Haha I think I may have better luck when I get larger enclosures for these guys otherwise they will just cover the same ground over and over again.
Can you please do a video about how to set up an ackie enclosure
Of course. I have it noted. Getting a few things set up.
Wouldn't it be a bad thing to leave dubia roaches in the ackie enclosure because the dubias will dig into the substrate and lay eggs?
Not really. Ackies are such efficient hunters they would just dig up the dubias. Mine dig up superworms that I drop sometimes they may last a few days but they never over populate. As long as your not over feeding and dropping food everyday that is.
Yay!!
Let me know what you think
Scales13 it was amazing
@@myzoo2856 wow thank you!
Scales13 Great video. I love how you are progressing with the craft of doing videos and the content for this one we really interesting and fun to watch. I was cheering for Thunder with the ball. It’s just like watching my rat terrier go after a treat in the same type of ball. Too bad I can’t have a big tank like that where I live. Would love an active and it would love the desert very much.
DO you by chance know what the coldest they can live in comfortably? Maybe an outside enclosure would work here.
At night my enclosure dosent drop below 75 degrees. The breeders i talk to told me 68 is going towards the dangerous area. But you want the basking temp upwards 145 degrees for adults. What area 9f the world do you live in?
Getting my juvenile Ackie in 2 days. I have everything ready except for the basking light. I've been having some trouble with the ceramic light fixture that came with my enclosure. It can supposedly handle up to 100W, but I hooked up a 100W Mercury Vapor UV Bulb and the fixture couldn't handle it (It kept turning off after being on for a minute). I looked it up and the bulb apparently has a safety feature where if a fire risk is present it turns off. So I lowered the bulb to a small 75W Basking Spot lamp and the rock under it doesn't heat up at all. So I'm gonna take your advice and buy a 90W halogen flood light from Home Depot or Lowes and see if it does a better job at heating and also see if the ceramic light fixture can handle it.
They work well for me. They typically last a few months at a time so I usually buy these in packs of 4 or 2 and always keep an extra ready
Yea halogen flood lights are very good.
One thing i do is make mine chase the food around the enclosure and boy is she fast.
Thats a great way to give them some extra exercise!
When doing thing like this gotta remember as well that predators will only spend a certain amount of energy to get prey so keep that in mind when choosing enrichment toys. You want them to work for it but they also need to know it is obtainable or they wont even try. Spoken from personal experience.
100% agreed
I'm thinking of getting a ackie monitor as a pet , i have never kept one or any monitor species and i would like to know wich size or age will be best to search for ( I have found a breeder who has most ages and sizes and a lot of variations )
Btw sorry for my bad English.
Your English is perfectly fine my friend. I got my ackie as a baby. I think its great because you can build the trust at a young age. My Ackie has been with me for about a year and a half now and hes going along very quickly.
@@Scales13 ah thnx 😅 , but they wont be really weak in comperison with a ackie of about 1year old , and would eight month's old be a good age ?
@@Bacodela healthy baby ackies are very strong. No worries my friend. And 8 month old is also a good start I just prefer to start my pets from the very beginning. To establish the bond from a very young age.
Hey just rewatching some of your videos and this one specifically im just wondering about the damage done to the ball after multiple uses now that some time has past since you posted this. If any pieces of rubber have came off or if he lost interest in the ball completely. Please and thank you 😁
So far so good. No pieces have fallen off yet. I dont do this practice daily though only about once a week for fun. He defently still goes after it. I think he associated it with food like how some monitor associate shiny things with food after being tong feed for a long period of time.
@@Scales13 thank you for the quick reply and update! My red ackie will be here later today and I got his whole enclosure set up and ready to go. Been waiting a long time for one of these guys.
Let me know when you get your ackie. Im sure you'll enjoy the experience.
@@Scales13 I've had him about a month now had a few adjustments I've had to make but other then that all is well. I was giving variety in his diet then he decided mealworms was his favorite so he stopped eating everything else. He was smart enough to realize if he was refusing everything else he would get the meal worms he wanted so I had to stop feeding those for now and only offered him roaches and basically he wasn't going to eat anything until he was willing to take the roach to start eating them again.
Thats good just keep rotating food items and stick to insects and your Ackie will be very healthy.
Hey scales great video. So its been about 8 months and i cant get my new ackie to come to me or let me pet him without running away from me! So frustrating!! Any suggestions? I feel like he wont ever come to me and be comfortable 😢
Be consistent. Don't force your upon the animal. Try tong feeding let the animal get sued to you being present without direct interaction. It will come to you in time.
@@Scales13 always remembered that not to force yourself on him and I never will do that. I do feed him off the tongs. Just been a while now and still not comfortable with me touching him. Thanks for your quick reply and have a happy Easter.
Thanks you same to you. Also you can try moving is as close as the animal will allow then dropped the food off the tongs. Thats what helped me with thunder.
What make is your enclosure? I like it.
DIY reptile enclosures. Its a good start if you want to use a 4x2x2 with a dig box or a retaining wall. Other than that I would get a custom build of atleast a 4x3x2 or a 5x3x2 for an adult.
It’s tough to find anything bigger than 4x2x2 that doesn’t cost 1000 bucks. I’ll probably end up building my own. Going to go as big as possible.
If you want a single animal 5x3x3 is all you would really need. 6x3x3 would be fantastic. Keep in mind the bigger the enclosure the more you have to do with heat.
@@Scales13 I went with a Kages 5x3x3. Going with an Arcadia 51 Watt LED, T5 UVB, a deep heat projector and I am going to experiment with different basking bulbs to figure out how to get to the temps I like.
Still have to sort out a new thermostat system but I am looking at Spyder robotics.
@@Streamer14 Nice! Kages is top notch
Is it good to buy an ackie at 5 months old?
Nothing wrong with that. Thudner was about a month old when I recoeved him.
What size enclosure u recommend
For a baby starting them off in a 4x2x2 or a 4x3x2 is just fine. As they grow into adult hood sky's the limit. A 5x3x3 or a 6x3x3 would work will for a single adult or a trio. Just keep in mine the more animals you have the more space they require. Also the more basking and hiding space you will need in order to keep the peace among enclosure mates. Height isn't such a huge deal as long as you can safety add proper lighting and deep substrate.. In captivity some Ackies get injuries from falling so 3 feet in height should be ideal 2 feet from the surface of the substrate. Although they do climb in the wild decor should look like downed trees and rock outcrops rather than a full arboreal setup. I hope this helps.
@@Scales13 thanks man for all the helpful advice💯🤙🏾
@@JayBay813 no doubt bro
😳
I dont quite understand your reaction.
First