Quick Questions about Red Ackies

[vakejairam]

Hi Everyone,

I've been researching ackies for sometime now. Do any of you have any in your collection? I wanted to purchase a pair of baby red ackies. I just have a few quick questions...

1) The heat source. I wanted to use a ceramic heat emitter. Have you ever tried this? The advantage is that you can have it "on" all the time. A lot of people use the halogen bulbs, but this would require an alternative heat source at night. I would supplement UVA by using a Repti-Sun Halogen (18"). I guess my only concern is if the ceramic bulbs can reach 120 degrees...

2) Would I be able to house a pair of babies in a 20 gallon long?

3) How deep should the substrate be for the babies?

I researched these questions online, but the info seems limited. The enclosure requirements are not mentioned.

Thanks,

Vake J.

[Omar]

Keep a hot spot of up to 150, try to keep it around 120 though. An abient temp of 90 would be good. yes babies could stay in a 20G for a LONG time! Keep the substrate, sand, dirt, or even newspaper. They like to burrow, so for babies, 2-3inches of sand would be fine!

[Omar]

Forgot to add, the halogen bulbs don't provide UVB. U may want to get a light fixture for like an aquarium and by the cheap uvb tube lights from a pet store. Although their is a lot of conflict on the subject , some people like Pro-exotics don't think it is neccessary for monitors to have uvb. I know people who have never used uvb and their monitors came up fine. When u think about it, an animal like a moniotor who will be eating a lot of stuff with bones in it like rodents, a uvb source may not be neccesary. I would use a uvb source just when they are young and still on an insectovore based diet just to be safe. Good luck!

[tdark1]

I have rasied quite a few monitors with no UVB, I know frank retes doesnt use UV bulbs at all. Stick with 120-145 on the basking site, a 20 gal would be ok for a while, but it would be hard to provide that basking spot without frying the cool end in such a small cage. I provide about 6-8 inches of dirt for them to burrow around in. You can also look at picking up a 4ft stock tank or horse trough, they only run about $50, and you can make a plexi glass lid for it. They work great.

[Omar]

Actually I had a 20gal with a 100watt flood light and a reg. 65wat bulb, and the hot side went up to 140, but the cooler end was only at 85.