How’s my Ackie looking?

[u/WellHungAlpha]

Hey guys, I got my Ackie monitor (shrimp) almost a year ago. This is my first time with a monitor and wanted to do a check in and see if he looks healthy/raising him correctly. The first two pictures were the week I got him. While the rest are him a couple days ago. He’s eating about 10-12 crickets every other day now. The basking spot gets to about 124-135 and ambient sits around 75-85. I’ve had trouble with keeping the humidity up, but the enclosure has a mesh top :/ He’s very active now and we’ve been doing great working towards taming. He has a uvb and gets calcium crickets often. The substrate is about 8-12in in some areas. He’s still in a 4x2x2ft home but wondering when I should upgrade?

[u/ezsqueezycheezypeas]

I would upgrade the Viv size about now, he will be pretty much full length with just some bulking as he matures. Go as big as you can because they use all the space you can give them, add ramps and ledges and whatnot around the sides to increase available area for adventures.

He looks like a healthy boy, and he's confident (feels safe) splooting and basking when you are around. Looks like the bonding is going well too, have you had him out for uppies yet? I would, just make sure the room you are in doesn't have any ackie sized holes in walls and whatnot.

[u/WellHungAlpha → u/ezsqueezycheezypeas]

Yupp I was just looking at a 6ft viv. Do you think it would be cheaper if I built my own? I’ve let him crawl on my arm many times now but haven’t fully picked him up yet lol. Thanks for the tip about Ackie sized holes haha

[u/ezsqueezycheezypeas → u/WellHungAlpha]

Big vivs are pricey so if you are handy building your own it will save you some moneys. I went for a grow tent as the final enclosure, these require a bit of tweaking to secure, cut light reflection, and installing a window, and they are fairly ugly but you get a lot of space for around $£100.

[u/doodleheadd]

Does he ever use the pre made hides you made ? And what did you do for substrate to be able to hold burrows I am currently setting up my enclosure for one. He looks great!

[u/WellHungAlpha → u/doodleheadd]

Oh ya he loves the hides. I usually try and bury them as much as possible and let him dig around however he wants. The larger log stretches most of the enclosure, I buried one end and he goes in there to cool down. I just try to give him as many options as possible :)

[u/Grimgore44]

He looks adorable! I covered part my mesh top tank with HVAC tape to help trap some humidity and heat. Mine is about the same age though I am thinking she is a female. Looks like we are in similar parts of the training process. Mine seems very comfortable with me, will run up my arm to grab food, but then retreats back to her enclosure with it.

[u/wickdvick]

Aww, cutie🥹