All care sheets

Care sheet

Ackie Monitor

Varanus acanthurus

Also known as: Ridge-tailed Monitor, Spiny-tailed Monitor

Varanidae · Squamata

IntermediateCITES IIIUCN LC
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Temperament
Docile
Adult length
17–30 in
Lifespan (captivity)
15–20 yrs
Native range
Northern Australia — arid rocky and spinifex habitat

Care guide

Overview

Ackie Monitor (Varanus acanthurus) — a small, intelligent, active dwarf monitor and one of the most tractable monitors. Needs a very hot basking surface (measure with an IR gun, not air temp), a deep burrowing substrate that holds a humid subterranean layer, and strong UVB. Note the basking figure is a surface temperature; do not confuse it with ambient air temperature.

Environment

Climate

Cool side
75–82 °F
Warm side
85–95 °F
Basking spot
150–172 °F
Nighttime
72–77 °F
Humidity (ambient)
20–50%

Environment

UVB lighting

Required?
Yes — provide UVB
Fixture type
T5 HO
Replacement interval
Every 12 months

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation
Terrestrial
Bioactive setup
Suitable
Minimum size by life stage
  • HatchlingNot specified
  • JuvenileNot specified
  • Adult5x2.5x4 ft minimum (larger preferred); deep substrate + rock stack

Housing

Substrate

Depth
12–24 in
Safe options
topsoil/sand/clay mix (holds burrows)excavator clay
Avoid
pure loose sandcoco fiber onlyaspenwalnut shell

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type
Insectivore
Feeding frequency by life stage
  • JuvenileDaily
  • AdultSeveral times per week (avoid obesity)
Supplementation

Dust insects with calcium + D3 + multivitamin; gut-load feeders.

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Clean water dish available at all times.

Legal & ecology

Conservation

CITES
Appendix II
IUCN Red List
LC · Least Concern
Wild populations

Least Concern (2017); CITES Appendix II. Australia prohibits commercial export of wild specimens, so captive-bred lines dominate.

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

  1. Ackie Monitor Husbandry (Reptile Rounds)

    Dr. Eric Los Kamp, DVM

    veterinary

    Veterinary husbandry overview: habit, insect/reptile diet, temperature gradient, health.

    Published: 2021-01-01

  2. Varanus acanthurus — species account

    IUCN SSC Monitor Lizard Specialist Group

    academic

    Taxonomy, range, IUCN Least Concern (2017), CITES Appendix II.

    Published: 2017-01-01

  3. The Ultimate Ackie Monitor Care Guide

    ReptiFiles (Mariah Healey)

    breeder community

    Basking surface 158-172F, cool 75-82F, humidity 20-50/burrow 80, min 5x2.5x4 ft, T5 HO UVB, insectivore diet.

    Published: 2022-01-01