Creating the right enclosure for your Ackie Monitor is essential for its health, behavior, and long-term well-being. These active, intelligent lizards need space to dig, bask, and explore.
This setup guide will cover:
- Ideal enclosure size by age
- Best substrates for digging
- Heating, UVB lighting, and humidity needs
- Must-have accessories and enrichment decor
📏 Ideal Enclosure Size
Ackie Monitors are very active and need large enclosures — bigger is always better.
| Age | Minimum Enclosure Size (L × W × H) |
|---|---|
| Hatchling | 36″ × 18″ × 18″ (40-gal breeder tank) |
| Juvenile | 48″ × 24″ × 24″ (75-gal or larger) |
| Adult | 4′ × 2′ × 2′ minimum; 6′ × 3′ × 3′ ideal |
Custom PVC enclosures are highly recommended for adult Ackies due to heat retention and size flexibility.
🏜️ Best Substrate for Burrowing
Ackies love to dig! Your substrate should be:
- Deep (at least 6–12 inches)
- Moisture-retaining but mold-resistant
- Free from chemical fertilizers
Top Substrate Mix Options:
- Organic topsoil + play sand (50/50)
- Coconut coir + excavator clay + sand (for sculptable terrain)
- Optional: Add leaf litter and sphagnum moss for humidity spots
Avoid reptile carpet, pine/cedar shavings, or pure sand.
☀️ Heating & Lighting Requirements
Ackie Monitors are diurnal desert reptiles, meaning they need intense heat and full-spectrum lighting.
| Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| Basking Spot | 120–140°F (use halogen flood bulb) |
| Cool Side | 75–85°F |
| Ambient Temp | 85–95°F |
| UVB Light | 10.0 T5 HO UVB tube (Arcadia or Zoo Med) |
| Lighting Cycle | 12 hrs light / 12 hrs dark |
Use a deep dome fixture for basking bulbs and place UVB tubes within 12–18 inches of basking area, unobstructed.
💦 Humidity & Hydration
While Ackies are desert reptiles, they need a humidity gradient (30%–60%) for shedding and health.
- Light misting 2–3x per week
- Add a humid burrow (deep moist hide)
- Provide a shallow water dish, refreshed daily
🪵 Enclosure Decor & Enrichment
Ackies thrive when given chances to climb, dig, and hide.
Must-have items:
- Multiple hides (hot and cool side)
- Climbing branches & cork rounds
- Basking platform or stacked slate rocks
- Dig boxes or soft digging zones
Optional enrichment:
- Live plants (e.g., snake plant or aloe)
- Reptile-safe logs or artificial vines
⚠️ Common Setup Mistakes
- ❌ Enclosures too small for adults
- ❌ Weak UVB or no basking gradient
- ❌ Loose sand-only substrates (impaction risk)
- ❌ No deep substrate for digging
✅ Summary Setup Checklist
✔ 4′ x 2′ x 2’+ enclosure for adults
✔ 6–12 inches of burrowable substrate
✔ Basking temps 120–140°F with UVB
✔ Enrichment: hides, logs, platforms
✔ Humidity pockets for shedding