Sunfire Ridge Tailed Monitor

[leahellem]

Hey guys as you have read the title yes its about ridge tail monitors...so yeah im getting a baby sunfire ridge tail monitor in a couple of weeks i really want to build up my research and care for them iv done some research on the net and have read so much different facts just want to know peoples info on here,

Do they need a uvb?
What size for baby then for an adult tank?
what temps do they need?
do they swim :/?

Can anyone give me some good tips maybe thanks would really appreciate it

[Pythoninfinite]

To start with, it's "Sandfire"... they come from the north coastal Pilbara region of WA. They like access to high basking heat... 45C, and yes, they can swim but would not do so mormally - they like hot, dry conditions.

Jamie

[leahellem]

Oh yeah ment sand woops, Ok sooo.....what size tank should i get for a baby then for a adult when it gets bigger, how big to they get i was told round 60 to 70cm head to tail? thanks

[Pythoninfinite]

A 60-90cm tank would be fine for a youngster, they do grow reasonably fast, but 70cm would be quite a big one - 50 cm would be a good average adult, and as big as you can afford to heat - these are active lizards and like to roam over their territories - minimum would be 1200 x 600 base, and a stack of clay roofing tiles makes an ideal shelter.

Jamie

[leahellem]

Aww ok kool well im getting a 4ft so that should be enough till he or she gets older and maybe then i may even upgrade again, do you know if there aggressive things? also whats a good price they should range around im getting one round 150-200

[Pilbarensis]

That's a decent price. Also like people they have individual personalities, I've found that hatchlings/juveniles to more likely to bite but as they get older and accustomed to handling around a yearling+ they settle down and become better handlers.

[leahellem]

Nice thanks for the help im goin to still doin alot of research over the couple of weeks before i get him/her thankyou

[Echiopsis]

To start with, it's "Sandfire"... they come from the north coastal Pilbara region of WA. They like access to high basking heat... 45C, and yes, they can swim but would not do so mormally - they like hot, dry conditions.

Jamie

I'd get the temp up a bit higher than that, 60 degrees worked for me.

[Grunter023]

Can anyone that keeps Ackies comment on whether UVB light is needed for them? To help myself and the OP who asked the question originally out. I know some people say UVB is not needed for them. I ask this because I seem to have a electrical problem, as the last 2 Mercury Vapor Bulb's I placed into the ceramic socket blew within minutes - sort of a dull flickering light for a few mins and then blew (quite annoying as they ain't cheap!) but then I put a normal Par floodlight in and its working fine so have stuck with it for the last few weeks. But now my Ackies are not getting any UV.

[Sinners121]

^^^^ there is no evidence to suggest monitors need UV light when given a proper diet of whole food prey and a very hot basking spot is provided

[Zeitgeist]

Can anyone that keeps Ackies comment on whether UVB light is needed for them? To help myself and the OP who asked the question originally out. I know some people say UVB is not needed for them. I ask this because I seem to have a electrical problem, as the last 2 Mercury Vapor Bulb's I placed into the ceramic socket blew within minutes - sort of a dull flickering light for a few mins and then blew (quite annoying as they ain't cheap!) but then I put a normal Par floodlight in and its working fine so have stuck with it for the last few weeks. But now my Ackies are not getting any UV.

Mercury Vapour lamps will not work without the correct ballast, and some will require an igniter (depends if the lamp is self-igniting). Also a capacitor is required for power factor correction or they will draw too much current, running your power bill up and reducing the life of the lamp. Yes, I'm a licensed electrician.

*EDIT* Typo, I'm half asleep lol.

[sweetangel]

UV light is pretty important I think! During summer i take all my adults outside to help them get some much needed vitamin D. As long as you are able to take a tub out in the sun for a couple of hours each month i would say that would be sufficient.
UV lights are pretty much a waste of time and wouldnt really be equivallent to much time out in the sun anyway.

And be very carefull with impaction! I had not experienced it at all until my last clutch. I moved the babies onto larger food too quickly. It better to feed smaller food for longer.

And as mentioned you need to pretty hot for the babies to be really healthy. adults dont need it quite so hot.

[Rickster]

Yes they need UVB lights other wise they can get mbd like my little fella I use a UVB 10 light, the kid I got him off was well a kid and didn't really know what he was doing also my enclosure is 6ftx2ftx2ft and I have a sand fire to, but I like to have the best for all my reptiles, I'm in Vic an have been looking fr more sand fire for ages so any contacts would be great cheers, you can see the back has mbd but is slowly getting better and his enclosure for ya hope this helps ya

[picaloandlola]

Oh my gosh ! I'm in vic and am finding it impossible to find ackies too !!!!! Any contacts/ breeders/ sellers let me know too !! Thanks







UOTE=Rickster;2228314]Yes they need UVB lights other wise they can get mbd like my little fella I use a UVB 10 light, the kid I got him off was well a kid and didn't really know what he was doing also my enclosure is 6ftx2ftx2ft and I have a sand fire to, but I like to have the best for all my reptiles, I'm in Vic an have been looking fr more sand fire for ages so any contacts would be great cheers, you can see the back has mbd but is slowly getting better and his enclosure for ya hope this helps ya[/QUOTE]

[spongebob]

Can anyone that keeps Ackies comment on whether UVB light is needed for them? To help myself and the OP who asked the question originally out. I know some people say UVB is not needed for them. I ask this because I seem to have a electrical problem, as the last 2 Mercury Vapor Bulb's I placed into the ceramic socket blew within minutes - sort of a dull flickering light for a few mins and then blew (quite annoying as they ain't cheap!) but then I put a normal Par floodlight in and its working fine so have stuck with it for the last few weeks. But now my Ackies are not getting any UV.

I can state categorically that ackies can be taken through the life cycle without UV and without MBD on a correct diet high in calcium. They do however need a hot basking spot of around 60C.