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By T-ReXx at 08/27/2009 - 14:45
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(Gekko gecko)
Size and Weight
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Tokay geckos are large, some adult males reach 14 inches in complete length. They are heavy bodied with large heads and strong jaws. Despite their size, Tokays are fast moving and agile animals. Healthy individuals will appear well filled-out with clear eyes and unblemished skin with raised, bump-like scales along the dorsal area. Healthy animals have clean bright red-to-orange mouths and nostrils free of running liquid or bubbles.
Geographical distribution
Tokay Geckos are native to Bangladesh, India, Southern China and Southeast Asia. The have been introduced to Hawaii and Florida via the pet trade. These hardy lizards can survive anywhere temperatures and humidity are high enough and there is adequate prey. In their native areas Tokays frequent houses, where they are welcomed as signs of good luck and eaters of pest insects.
Specie Description
Tokay Geckos are among the largest gecko species in the world. They are beautiful, intelligent, and often misunderstood reptiles that are fairly easy to keep and exhibit many interesting behaviors. Wild Type Tokays have a background color of dark-to-light purple-to-bluish color combined with a pattern of orange/orange-red spots and blotches. Tokay geckos have been kept in captivity for decades and are available in many beautiful morphs. Often labeled as a "pet store fodder" species, they are rewarding and hardy captives that will breed readily if kept in the correct environment. They work well in large planted vivaria and will not dig up or destroy plant life. If you want a large gecko that will work well as a display lizard and don't mind not handling your animal, tokays are an excellent choice.
Sexing
Sexing Tokay Geckos can be difficult. Males tend to be larger with a heavier head/jaws. Both sexes have pre-anal pores, but those of males are more prominent and often exude a waxy pheremone used to mark territory. Young tokays can be accurately sexed at 4-6 months of age by looking for these pores with a 10x magnifying glass. Males also sometimes have visible hemipenal bulges at the base of the tale. If you are in doubt of the sexes of your tokays, DO NOT house them together, males of this species are extremely territorial and they will fight, with potentially fatal results. Females are more tolerant, but there can still be some degree of intra-female aggression, especially if a male/eggs are present.
Natural Habitat
Tokay Geckos prefer lush, hot, tropical forests. They spend their days hidden in hollow tree limbs or under loose large sections of bark, emerging at night to hunt for prey and find mates. Plants are highly recommended with this species, either plastic or live, to provide the sense of security that these animals need to thrive.
Longevity
In the wild tokays live an average of 2-5 years. In captivity they can live 10-20 years with proper care.
Temperature
Tokay geckos require hot, humid conditions with adequate air flow. An ambient temperature of 80-85F with a 85-95F basking spot is optimal during the day, night drops by 10 degrees are tolerated well. Humidity should be in the 70% range, with daily misting to allow fluctuations to mimic natural rain cycles. Although these geckos can tolerate humidity drops into the 40% range, it can cause problems with shedding, especially with juveniles and hatchlings. The best forms of heat for Tokays are incandescent bulbs during the day with a red or blue low wattage(25-60) bulb for night viewing/heat if required. Under the tank heating isn't as effective with this species, as it is highly arboreal and will not come in contact with ground heat sources regularly. The author has had success with Heat Cable wrapped around branches within the enclosure as well. These nocturnal animals do not require UV lighting. A 12 hour light cycle with a 14 on/10 off change during the summer can stimulate breeding. Heavy misting will also encourage animals to breed. A timer is the easiest way to regulate lighting.
Food
Tokay geckos are big eaters. They will consume almost anything that attracts their attention and that they can over power. Crickets and roaches make the best staple diets, with silkworms or large moths or locusts for variety. Be sure any wild collected insects are pesticide free. Some animals will take pinkie mice(1 day to 1 week old) and this is a good way to fatten up thin animals. Avoid meal worms/super worms, these larval insects are low in nutritional value and often refused due to their inactive nature. Adult Tokay Geckos will consume 10-20 prey per feeding, with feeding every other day being optimal. Insects should be no longer than the animals head. Hatchlings and growing juveniles are best fed daily for optimum growth. Hatchlings usually consume 5-10 appropriate sized prey per sitting. Prey insects should be gut loaded high quality food at least 24 hours before being offered. A high quality Calcium supplement should be dusted on insects every other feeding for growing animals and two-three times a week for adults. Breeding females should have 24 hour access to calcium supplement in a shallow dish. Many Tokays are fond of fruit and will consume fruit based baby foods, ripe bananas, peaches, or melon, or Crested Gecko Diet if it is available. These foods are to be used as occasional variety and should not replace an insect diet. Fruit foods should be removed after 36 hours to prevent mold/pests.
Captive Environment
Tokays are large, active geckos. A minimum of 18"X12"X18" is needed for a single adult, with more space highly advised. These territorial animals need more space if kept in pairs or groups, with a area of 24"X18"X24" optimal for a pair. This is not to say you can't make the cage bigger, bigger is better and the animals will use the space. Don't house male tokay geckos together and be careful mixing females, some will fight. Provide at least two hide areas, one in the cooler area and one nearer the basking spot. This allows these secretive animals to thermoregulate and still remain hidden. Large branches, pieces of cork bark or drift wood should be provided as perches. Plants, either life, fake, or both are required for these animals to feel at home. There are many safe plant species, choose some with large leaves and that do well in low-light conditions. Snake Plants, Pothos, Crotons, Bromeliads and Philedendrons are some popular choices. Open space is not as important as these lizards prefer to remain out of sight usually. PVC pipe or bamboo(2" diameter for adults) make excellent shelters and often are used as egg sites. Provide a water dish with clean water. Misting is important as most tokay geckos will not drink standing water. Mist twice a day or more often to maintain humidity. Substrate can be paper towels or newspaper for an easier setup, or a more natural substance like cypress mulch, perlite-free potting soil, peat moss, sphagnum moss, or coconut fiber. If using a natural substrate, use a drainage layer of gravel or expanded clay pellets to prevent saturation of the substrate. Bioactive substrates can remain in place for years is properly maintained.
Breeding
Tokay geckos are good breeders in captivity. If all conditions are right, they will often produce eggs without any cycling. Adults should be kept in pairs, trios can work but females may eat each others' eggs and/or fight. Misting more heavily and providing longer light periods in the spring can often trigger reluctant breeders. Be careful when pairing animals, some tokays just don't like each other. Once a pair has mated they are bonded and replacing either animal or adding others can be difficult, if not impossible. Once bonded tokays will often breed regularly year round, with clutches of two eggs produced as often as every 2 months.
Incubation
Male tokays guard the eggs and often hatchlings so be careful when working around a male on duty. Gestation is around 30 days, with usually a pair of eggs glued in a spot chosen by the female. If glued in place in your vivarium don't try to move the eggs, they are fragile. Simply cover them with some gauze or a small plastic deli cup with a few holes punched for ventilation and leave them, they will usually incubate fine in the vivarium. Eggs glued to removable cage furniture or, rarely, laid loose can be carefully removed and incubated at 78-87F and will hatch in 30-200 days depending on temperature. Temperature based sex determination has not been proven in Tokay geckos, but is possible. More research is required.
Juveniles
Young tokay geckos are miniature versions of the adults. Set up babies individually or in clutch mate pairs in small(5 gal) vivaria. Provide the same environment as the adults. Feed hatchlings daily, with careful watching of grouped babies to avoid competition between siblings. Separate any incompatible animals. Young tokays grow fast with adequate food and heat, some will reach sexual maturity within 9 months. Females should be at least a year in age before being bred. Captive bred animals are generally calmer and easier to work with, and although many babies will bite, it is less painful than the bite of an adult.
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I have two gekkos. Like many people who frequent the local pet shop, I inherited mine from my about 12 years ago. You know..."you can bring the pet home" and the kid never takes him back to school but the Mom (me) gets attached and resolves to care for the gekko, hamster etc , for the rest of her life.
In this case it;s a leopard (is that right) gecko. I don't know anything about them and realize I've been writing the word .. gekko...but did get attached to this little guy who I named Richard Gecko.
to make a long story short last year I looked at him and wondered if he'd like a little "friend." The young man at the pet shop gave me a 9 month old F (Carmen) and said to put it in with him...watch carefully...see what happened. All was well until about a month ago. Suddenly He was attacking her. Bit her tail pretty badly.
having read the chat boards I see that (duh) he is trying to mate with her and she was probably too young before. But when I put them together a second time...and came back later that day to check...he'd taken a chunk out of her tail. So to speak. And she is really scared of him.
So I put a board in the tank..which is big..and cut it in half. But Richard freaks out a lot when he hears her. Like right now.
What's a mother to do? Pull down the wall knowing odds are she's going to be bitten. Keep them apart fearing he'll be miserable (he's trying to dig under the wall as I write this)
By the way...it didn't occur to me they would mate because he's 12 and in dog years...whatever..guess he's not a dog.
So. Hello. Any advice?
You'll get much better response.
I have two gekkos. Like many people who frequent the local pet shop, I inherited mine from my about 12 years ago. You know..."you can bring the pet home" and the kid never takes him back to school but the Mom (me) gets attached and resolves to care for the gekko, hamster etc , for the rest of her life.
In this case it;s a leopard (is that right) gecko. I don't know anything about them and realize I've been writing the word .. gekko...but did get attached to this little guy who I named Richard Gecko.
to make a long story short last year I looked at him and wondered if he'd like a little "friend." The young man at the pet shop gave me a 9 month old F (Carmen) and said to put it in with him...watch carefully...see what happened. All was well until about a month ago. Suddenly He was attacking her. Bit her tail pretty badly.
having read the chat boards I see that (duh) he is trying to mate with her and she was probably too young before. But when I put them together a second time...and came back later that day to check...he'd taken a chunk out of her tail. So to speak. And she is really scared of him.
So I put a board in the tank..which is big..and cut it in half. But Richard freaks out a lot when he hears her. Like right now.
What's a mother to do? Pull down the wall knowing odds are she's going to be bitten. Keep them apart fearing he'll be miserable (he's trying to dig under the wall as I write this)
By the way...it didn't occur to me they would mate because he's 12 and in dog years...whatever..guess he's not a dog.
So. Hello. Any advice?