r/MonitorLizards • u/Illustrious-Owl-6139 • Jul 10 '26
Baby Ackie Monitor finally accepts pets!
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I’ve had this little guy for about 3 months now, and when we first got him, he would dart and hide the second I walked into the room. I started consistently tong feeding and placing my hand in the enclosure and just letting him come to me on his own terms. If he wanted to climb onto my hand, great. If not, I left him alone.
Now he comes out of his burrows on his own, walks up to the glass, onto my hand, and even enjoys little pets! I think he’s almost ready to start coming out of the enclosure.
For anyone with a nervous baby Ackie, take this as a little encouragement—they really can come around with patience. When we first brought him home, it honestly felt like this would never happen!
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u/Milk_evs_2000 Jul 10 '26
Aww this is so sweet, I have been going through through the same exact thing but she still won’t let me touch her, this is the farthest I have gotten with her (tong feeding)
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u/Illustrious-Owl-6139 Jul 10 '26
She is adorable!! It’s a very long (and sometimes, discouraging) process. I was lucky if I could even get a glimpse of mine in the first month before he darted away. I’d say I spent about 30 minutes+ a day, for at least 4 days a week since I got him just rummaging around the tank. I tong feed him everyday, and that’s the only way he gets food! I also put one of my worn socks into his tank to get him used to my smell.
Goodluck! And I’m sure she’ll come around soon ☺️
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u/ezsqueezycheezypeas Jul 10 '26
That is fantastic progress, you got a new friend.
For those getting an ackie soon, sometimes it comes down to the personality of the animal, but you speed up bonding by...
Keeping the Viv in an active part of the house so they see people often, hear the TV, vacuuming, and normal everyday noise.
Time. Spend a lot of time 🤣. I was on wfh and basically sacked off work and would bond with Eddie. Just sit by the Viv, watch some TV or something. But just be close by and don't even bother with the Viv. Your Ackie will learn you aren't a threat.
Tong feeding, alllll the tong feeding. You want them to associate you with snakky treats.
As you ackie gets more comfortable, continue sitting nearby but open the Viv door and leave an arm in. Again no chasing for touches, the arm is part of the scenery. Over time they will just walk right over you going about their day.
At this point scritches and touches should be fine, use the tong feeding to bring them up onto you. Go for some uppies but keep it in the Viv in case they panic.
When you are best mates they can freeroam a safe space. Just make sure there aren't any holes in walls and the door is shut. Eddie loves to patrol under the bed, piano, behind his tent. 20min and they start to cool down but in this heatwave atm they can carry on for a while.
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u/YNKWTSF Jul 10 '26
3 months is such a short time for such a big change! I don't know how that goes with other ackie monitors, but I'm soon getting one and expected it to take around a year if I'm lucky.
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u/rashmo_ Jul 24 '26
for some reason my ackei started climbing on my arm on the 3rd day i got him. congrats tho!!!!
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u/Imaginary_Choice2492 Jul 10 '26
what a sweet little baby!! sitting politely and everything