What is the REAL Cost Of An Ackie Monitor? Including DIY Enclosure Cost!

Ackie Monitors are continuously exploding in popularity, but how much should you expect to spend? This video discusses my initial and year-to-year costs for an Ackie Monitor and where you may be able to save some money. Additionally, I break down the cost of my DIY Ackie Monitor enclosure build.
Enclosure Build Instructions: docs.google.co...
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★About Professor Herp★
I started getting into the reptile hobby in February of 2018. My first reptile was my Bearded Dragon - Maxine Pegasus (creator of duel monsters btw). Since then, I have added five Yellow Ackie Monitors (Asus, Dell, LG, and two unnamed babies), a Chacoan Black and White Tegu (Frappuccino), a Crested Gecko (Destin), and a Russian Tortoise (Tortellini). I also have a dog named Thrall (yes, from World of Warcraft) who is a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix - aka a Chiweenie.
My goal with this channel is to share my knowledge, experience and journey with other reptile/animal enthusiasts and become a better caretaker because of it. Hopefully I can learn a lot from the community through these videos.
"Always be open to new idea's, no matter your expertise, nor the expertise of the individual expressing the new idea."
#ackiemonitor #savemoney #reptile #cost #care #ackie #redackie #husbandry #diyenclosure #lizard #buying #professorherp

[@ProfessorHerp]

Unlike in the Tegu version, I did not include the price of the actual Ackie Monitor. Here are those details: Yellow: $275+ (seen as high as $800) Reds: $350+ (seen close to $1000 as highest) Additionally, a few missed price points: WeMo Smart Plug: $29.99 Nails(for putting the wood together): $5-$10

[@blazetube1164]

Nice! And I really like the new thumbnails!

[@Terreos]

Red ackies seem to go for $450-$500 where I’m at from breeders. I’d love to get one at the prices you mention. 😰

[@oogway9895]

Ive seen yellows as cheap as €150 but thats in the Netherlands

[@justinpaul3110]

This video really hits on a point (I believe ) Scales13 made: ackies are definitely a reptile where you will need to DIY much of the care stuff. Pet shops don't really have the equipment you will need.

[@ProfessorHerp]

Love Steves content!

[@curtis-lakecloudt9892]

I’ve been debating on what species of lizard to get and your videos have really helped pick one that suits my lifestyle!

[@quix66hiya22]

Thanks. This helps me get a great idea. I have to move before I get an an ackie. Wish I had known the cost of my Hermann’s tortoise before I got him. Start up cost was about 3 times what I expected after talking to people.

[@Misha-ov7rb]

Maybe a cost vid on your bearded dragon max

[@joshuadelagarza999]

Nice video man. I personally love these videos. Looking to get into owning ackies. Could you do a video like this on more common kept species? geckos? Keep up the great work!

[@ProfessorHerp]

have you seen the recent ones? :)

[@jakehaskill7061]

The plexiglass bottom is probably the best way to line a wood enclosure. A cheaper and easier way could be to use 1/2 inch PVC board instead of wood, sold at Home Depot for about $65 (4x8 ft). Easy to cut and does not split when screwing together. All that’s left is silicone the seams. But your enclosures are still awesome, and your care! Keep up the good work!

[@ProfessorHerp]

Thanks Jake!

[@GNoldman]

1/2" PVC board, 4'x8', now costs ~$200, maybe $160 min. Wild how much the price rose in 4 years.

[@MrGir187]

Loving these videos John, would like to see you do one for each species you keep. If your looking to save over Plexiglas try paint on pond liner. Non toxic and way cheaper, hope that helps you.

[@ProfessorHerp]

Thanks for the tip!

[@MrGir187]

@@ProfessorHerp your welcome

[@d3sert_w0lf]

What’s a good size for an adults enclosure? Under 6 ft

[@simonlee5708]

Hey any suggestions which breeder I can get a good baby ackie from? I'm fairly new to the reptile hobby and this is the breed I think I want, mainly for the size and costs.

[@philliphayman8920]

Rather than a plexiglass bottom, Not sure if it’s the best but I wouldn’t see why it wouldn’t be, but I made a wood enclosure and painted two thick layers of rubberised paint on the bottom which is very durable and I could pool water in there with no leaks and it’s self levelling paint which fills every crack or possible leak

[@nasher1992]

Pond liner for waterproofing instead of plexi.. and breed own feeders

[@franciscoribeiro9307]

Hey professor Herp. I just moved into a large studio apartment and have been planning on getting an ackie for when the pandemic is over but I have a concern about being able to maintain the correct temp in the enclosure. i am typically a guy that likes to sleep in a cold room and my question is, will it be possible to keep the heat insulation at the correct level inside the enclosure if i have the AC going in the same room because it is a studio? Likewise will my studio become an oven with the heating in the tank required to keep a healthy ackie. i have no problem spending the extra buck to get a high quality enclosure but i just don't really know how effectively i can hope to insulate the tank while keeping my apartment at a moderately cool temp. if you don't think that is possible or recommend against it i will probably wait until i live in a 1 bedroom or larger so that it can have its own room. oh and followup question is would it be alright to start a hatchling ackie in what would be its adult enclosure or do i have to start it in a smaller one then move it to its larger one as it gets older? your insight would be greatly appreciated!

[@ProfessorHerp]

Hi, Francisco! Would be possible. You may need to provide some overnight heating though. You should not have to deal with an oven studio either :) Starting a hatchling in an adult enclosure is perfectly fine! Hope this helps

[@nathansells3772]

I know this video is a year old but still has a decent amount of traffic so if anyone is building their own enclosure I've heard that truck bed liner is the perfect durable waterproofing material and a can only cost about 10 bucks, and breeding your own feeders can bring down costs too. Crickets are annoying to breed and smell bad so you probably want to just get them from the store, and you're obviously going to need to pay to feed the bugs, but roaches and mealworms are extremely easy to breed!

[@dakota2314]

Did you say you burn through halogen bulbs every week!?!?!

[@BroddieBlocks93]

I am waiting on my Red Ackie and its $500

[@pearcebisbee88]

The correct dimensions for ackies are 8x4x4

[@ProfessorHerp]

that would be great!

[@MrNiC0S]

Why dont u use concreet plywood? Its waterproof you just have to kit it to make it not leak.

[@MrNiC0S]

Btw i cut glass at work and its much less expensive too use glass as doors then the plexiglass

[@benjietorres9642]

@@MrNiC0S these lizards are pretty strong and can maybe break glass unless its temper..but u want too keed the heat in and the plastic glass would hold it in better

[@ProfessorHerp]

concrete plywood? Never heard of it

[@MrNiC0S]

@@ProfessorHerp yea im not english but its plywood made to put concrete in.

[@jessiefranklin9318]

Wouldn't you also save a good amount just by breeding your own dubias

[@ProfessorHerp]

definitely!

[@jessiefranklin9318]

@@ProfessorHerp I've been thinking about saving for a year or two (I'm a teenager) and I want either a carpet python, ackie monitor, or blue tegu. But my mother hates snakes soo😂

[@ProfessorHerp]

@@jessiefranklin9318 So does my mom haha

[@peepoop5484]

Le monke🦧

[@CarringtonAkins]

Plastic