Monitors

[reptilefan95]

Thanks guys ive seen a few ackie stacks before, im confident i could make one but what material should i use plywood or tile?

 

[Freemason2250]

Mate, you really lead to lay off on the assumptions. Seriously. I'm not one of the breast-feeding crew. Pull your head out of that dark little hole in your nether region.

I appologize ,I did come across a bit douchey then

I meant no offence

 

[Freemason2250]

Thanks guys ive seen a few ackie stacks before, im confident i could make one but what material should i use plywood or tile?

I use tiles with 5cm timber supports between each tile, I turn the tiles upside down too so they are rough side up

 

[JasonL]

Tile, it heats up better, make sure it is all fixed and solid so they can't knock it down and crush themselves. Make sure all hide areas are heated.

 

[reptilefan95]

How would you fix the tyles to the wooden supports? Silicon?

 

[Freemason2250]

I use liquid nails and let it dry completely before using it

 

[slacker]

I appologize ,I did come across a bit douchey then

I meant no offence

No worries. My apologies also. I'm tired and can perhaps get a little defensive when it comes to species I'm particularly fond of

Seriously though, I've found mine to be similar to yours when moved into a new enclosure; very shy, nervous and even reluctant to eat. On a general basis however, quite active, fun to watch, not shy at all and great on the food.

 

[JasonL]

Or if you can find someone who knows how to use a drill, you can drill a single hole through the centre of the tile and the spacers and bolt them together.. Also, put ALL heavy item on the bottom of the enclosure, NOT on top of the substrate to avoid animals digging under things and crushing themselves.

 

[Freemason2250]

Or if you can find someone who knows how to use a drill, you can drill a single hole through the centre of the tile and the spacers and bolt them together.. Also, put ALL heavy item on the bottom of the enclosure, NOT on top of the substrate to avoid animals digging under things and crushing themselves.

Good point!

 

[Andrais]

are there any monitors that are a bit bigger than ackies?
for some reason in the monitor family the just seem to jump from XS to L, were's the medium? i find that ackies are a little small anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[jinin]

Just some facts on the pygmy mulga monitors if your still interested....
Grow to 40cm in length.
They need a basking spot of 40-70oC.
Dont Require UV.

 

[reptilefan95]

Ok cheers guys so i might use liquid nail or get my uncle (tradie) to drill me some holes and fix it. So how do you run a heat cord in a melamine enclosure?

 

[Bushfire]

If your got a 4ft long cage I would go with ackies if its smaller than I would go with gillens, If size isnt a limiting factor go for ackies. But overall you can keep them the same way and they act and behave very much the same. To it comes down to what you are looking for in a monitor ie. colour, pattern, size.

Stacks are very useful to use and I have a basking spot of 68oC, and the cool end is close to room temp. If you are going for gillens I would aim to have spacings in the stack about 1.5 - 2 cm (tight). I use the square dowel stuff and liquid nail it to sheets of roughish tile (30cm x 30cm). I have about 5 tiles in the stack. As for what else is in the cages a water bowl, a section of plastic tubing in the cool end, an egg laying box (only once they get to mature size), and thats it. You can add what ever you like but the majority of time is spent close to the stack either in the different levels or basking.

Not to stir the pot but I have 27 small/med sized monitors of which all can be hand fed and every time I open the cage or they see me about come out waiting to be feed.

 

[reptilefan95]

Thanks very much bushfire! Its a 70cm by 70cm by 40cm at the moment but i will most probably be getting a 4 by 2 by 2 so which would last longer in the first tank?

 

[Aslan]

Reptilefan - Let me start off by telling you that you are making a great choice in selecting a small Monitor. They are VERY enjoyable, active and easy to care for.

I have kept both species for some time now.

I disagree with some of the comments that Gilleni are an exceptionally shy and secretive species. In fact, I find them to be the complete opposite. My Gilleni have always, and still do, display a high level of confidence and character when people are around.

Ackies will do the same. In my experience young Ackies are skittish, however, embolden quite quickly whilst young Gilleni start at that level.

The simple benefits of Gilleni are that they require a smaller enclosure and are disinclined to bite in any way.

The advantages of the Ackies are that they are the next size larger which has some appeal and are more brightly coloured. I should point out that Ackies also bite only very rarely, however, it does happen on occasion.

Another benefit (which may be quite important to a 14y/o such as yourself) is that Ackies are also less expensive and more readily available...

 

[reptilefan95]

Ok thanks man, so does anyone have pictures? Do they need a heat chord?

 

[gecko-mad]

Just some facts on the pygmy mulga monitors if your still interested....
Grow to 40cm in length.
They need a basking spot of 40-70oC.
Dont Require UV.

40 to 70 degrees c !?!?!?!? isnt that a bit hot

 

[reptilefan95]

No ive heard they like their temps around that

 

[reptilefan95]

More info guys? ive only found one or two good care sheets, but they arent very detailed...

 

[JasonL]

40 to 70 degrees c !?!?!?!? isnt that a bit hot

not at all, anything under 30 for a desert monitor is brumation temps..