is it legal to own an ackie monitor by state Resource Hub
Is it legal to own an ackie monitor in your state? Get the full 50-state breakdown, banned states list, and permit requirements before you buy.
Lifespan
15–20 years in captivity
Origin
Arid northwestern and central Australia
Habitat & Setup
Tank Size
4×2×4 feet (minimum for adults)
Substrate
70% organic topsoil / 30% play sand packed 8–12 inches deep
Lighting
T5 HO 10.0 or 12% UVB tube spanning at least 2/3 of the enclosure length, positioned 12–18 inches from basking area; 12-hour photoperiod
Temperature
Basking
150–170°F surface temperature
Cool Side
75–85°F ambient
Night
70–75°F
Humidity: 20–40% surface; 60–70% at burrow depth
Mist one side of substrate every 2–3 days to maintain subsurface moisture gradient without raising surface humidity
Diet & Feeding
Diet Type
Carnivorous insectivore — live or freshly killed prey required
Schedule
Daily for juveniles under 12 months; every other day for subadults; 3–4 times per week for adults
Supplements
Calcium + D3 dusted 3–4x per week (juveniles) or 2x per week (adults); multivitamin 1x every 1–2 weeks
Foods
Temperature Gradient
Resource Hub
Everything About is it legal to own an ackie monitor by state
21 guides covering every aspect of is it legal to own an ackie monitor by state care — organized so you can find exactly what you need.
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Ackie Monitor Complete Care Guide for Beginners
The full care guide — habitat, diet, lighting, health, handling, and buying tips all in one place.
Setup & Habitat
Learn how to build the perfect enclosure — size, substrate, décor, and environment basics.
Diet & Nutrition
What to feed at every life stage — feeder insects, vegetables, supplements, and schedules.
Ackie Monitor Common Health Issues: Signs, Causes & Treatment
Discover the most common ackie monitor health issues — from respiratory infections and MBD to parasites — plus how to spot symptoms and treat them fast.
Savannah Monitor Diet: What to Feed & How Often
Learn the best savannah monitor diet, feeding schedule, and foods to avoid. Expert tips on insects, snails, supplements, and how often to feed your monitor.
Health & Care
Shedding, brumation, common illnesses, lifespan, and daily care routines.
Best Products
Top-rated enclosures, lights, substrates, and gear — vetted and ranked.
Best Ackie Monitor Enclosure: Top Picks for 2026
Find the best ackie monitor enclosure for your setup. We cover size requirements, top picks, DIY options, and everything you need for a thriving ackie.
Best Ackie Monitor Food: Complete Feeding Guide
Discover the best ackie monitor food options including dubia roaches, BSFL, and crickets. Complete feeding schedule, supplement guide, and foods to avoid.
Best Ackie Monitor Heating: Expert Setup Guide
Discover the best ackie monitor heating setup with expert picks, target temps, and thermostat tips to keep your ackie thriving in a proper thermal gradient.
Best Ackie Monitor Lighting: A Comprehensive Guide
Discover the best lighting options for your Ackie Monitor, including UVB and heating requirements, to ensure a healthy, thriving pet.
Best Ackie Monitor Starter Kit for Beginners
Get the best Ackie monitor starter kit for a happy and healthy pet. Learn what to include and how to set up the perfect enclosure for your Ackie monitor.
Best Ackie Monitor Substrate: Top Picks for 2026
Find the best ackie monitor substrate for your setup. We cover top mixes, required depth, impaction risks, and cleaning tips to keep your ackie thriving.
Best Monitor Lizard as a Pet: Our Top Picks for 2026
Looking for the best monitor lizard as a pet? Our expert guide ranks the top species, focusing on manageable size, temperament, and proper care for keepers.
Best Monitor Lizard for Beginners: 4 Top Species Ranked
Looking for the best monitor lizard for beginners? We rank 4 top species by temperament, size, and care needs so you can pick the perfect one.
Comparisons
Side-by-side species comparisons to help you choose the right reptile.
Ackie Monitor vs Blue Tongue Skink: Which Pet Is Right for You?
Compare Ackie Monitor and Blue Tongue Skink side by side — size, cost, diet, temperament, and care difficulty. Find your perfect pet.
Ackie Monitor vs Argentine Black and White Tegu: Which Pet Is Right for You?
Compare Ackie Monitor and Argentine Black and White Tegu side by side — size, cost, diet, temperament, and care difficulty. Find your perfect pet.
Buying Guide
Where to buy, what morphs cost, and what to look for in a healthy animal.
More Resources
Additional guides and resources on this species.
Blue Tree Monitor Care: The Complete Expert Guide
Blue tree monitor care demands expert-level skill: towering arboreal enclosures, 80% humidity, and extreme rarity. Here's what you must know before buying one.
Crested Gecko Humidity Requirements: Levels, Monitoring & Misting Schedule (2026)
Master crested gecko humidity with our complete misting guide. Learn the wet/dry cycle, top auto mister picks, and seasonal tips. Fix bad sheds today.
How to Handle an Ackie Monitor: Step-by-Step Taming Guide
Learn how to handle an ackie monitor safely with our step-by-step taming guide. Build trust fast and turn your spiny-tailed lizard into a calm, handleable pet.
Black Throat Monitor Care: A Complete Guide for Reptile Enthusiasts
Discover the essential care tips and best practices for keeping healthy and happy black throat monitors as pets.
Recommended Gear
Habitat Gear
PVC construction retains the extreme heat ackie monitors need, and front-opening doors allow safe, low-stress feeding without reaching from above.
Lighting
The 12% output matches the UV intensity of an Australian sun-exposed rocky outcrop, giving ackie monitors the D3 synthesis they need without supplementing heavily.
Heating
Produces near-infrared radiation that penetrates muscle tissue for deep thermoregulation — far more effective than surface-only halogen heat for an animal that basked on sun-heated rocks in the wild.
Verifying 150–170°F surface temps requires a point-and-shoot IR thermometer — stick-on thermometers are wildly inaccurate at these extreme basking temperatures.
Feeding
An all-in-one calcium and vitamin supplement formulated for reptiles with access to UVB lighting — trusted by monitor keepers for preventing MBD without over-supplementing vitamin D3.
Gut-loading feeder insects for 24–48 hours before feeding significantly boosts their nutritional value — Repashy Bug Burger is widely used by monitor breeders for this purpose.
Related Species
Frequently Asked Questions
No — California prohibits all Varanus species under the California Fish and Game Code Section 2118. Possession without a scientific research permit (unavailable to private owners) is illegal and can result in fines and animal confiscation. Blue-tongued skinks are a popular legal alternative for CA residents.