ACKIE / SPINY TAILED MONITOR BUILD - Varanus Acanthurus

This Build is a bit different, it's for a Spiny Tailed Monitor and this species really does need to have a nice bit of space to run, hunt, bask, and hide. Ackies need a high temperature basking spot 45c-50c with night time temperature dropping to 25-30c. Being lizards, they also require a higher percentage UVB Lamp to maintain proper health.

Build Specification

W170cm H90cm D70cm Custom Bespoke Vivarium & Electrical Cupboard by Southdowns Aquatics
40cm deep full length framed dig box made by Simon Fox at Sid & Si's Snakes
Sealed with 100% clear aquarium grade HA6 Silicone
Central hardwood support sealed, plus stainless fittings
Microclimate Evo 3 Thermostat & Light controller
220w ReptiRad
2x 100w Arcadia Halogen Basking Bulbs
2x Komodo Bulb Holders
2x ProRep Heat Cages
Arcadia pro T5 22inch 12% UVB unit
Arcadia pro T% Jungle Dawn (Linked)
2x Arcadia Pro Light Cages
All fittings for electricals are done mechanically and not with adhesives for maximum security and pet friendly safety.

Assemble Shell & Subframe

Part one of the build, I have assembled the outer shell and started to frame out the dig box to fit snugly inside. It can be tricky getting the measurements exact as you have to leave enough space on the corners for the silicone bead around the shell at the bottom So all edges must be shaved down to accommodate this.

Finishing the dig box

Once the subframe has been made, I lined it with some high quality plywood that is designed for outdoor use, then cut it to shape. It then can be fully sealed both sides and edges with pet safe varnish to cope with constant contact with soil. Once this is done I mechanically fix it with some screws

Sealing shell & fitting & Sealing dig box

Getting this right is crucial to make sure the correct fitting is achieved and silicone is done in one go. It was a tight squeeze as it should be. To much gap and the silicone wouldn't bridge the gap, we got it in perfectly. At this point I mechanically fit the dig box with screws as well to set it in place.

Fitting the electricals

Testament to how firm this dig box is in, you can flip this on end and still stay put! We can now get to the point where we fit all the electricals. Its always good to fit them like this to see where things fit, especially when you have a busy amount to allocate space to making sure you have plenty of room for cages, supports, wires etc. Sid & Si's Snakes will always use mechanical based fittings for cables rather than chemical or adhesive. One reason is adhesives that do not fully set such as tape or sticky pads should never be used for pet safety, and also if the fittings are mechanical removing and servicing items becomes easy in the future

Installing Cupboard

It was kind of the same step as all the mains cabling and probes from the Evo 3 unit had to be put through the cupboard. When fitting components through a vivarium, I will always go through the wood rather than vents as vents are liable to break. The hole I cut is always as small as I can just to get the component wires through.

Once this has been done I filled the sub base with I think 12 bags of substrate (my custom Pet safe topsoil play sand mix for arid plains species) and furnish then test run the fittings and calibrate basking temperatures.

Dressing and furnishing

At Sid & Si's Snakes we take the view that all of our creatures enclosures should be safe and enriched. For the Ackie build I put in a huge slate elevated basking spot which doubles up as a hot hide underneath, loads of cork rounds and bridges of cork branch for it to climb and explore. The cork offers great surface for the claws of a lizard to grab onto and the rounds of a cork means they can climb on and through them giving double the amount of explorable area for the space maximising enrichment. Add and a few rocks to climb and sit on to warm up after a big meal of bugs and of course add a water bowl!

This is one happy Lizard who loves his bespoke Sid & Si's Enclosure!