Tokay Gecko

Scientific name:

Gekko gecko

Distribution:

The Tokay Gecko has a relatively wide distribution and is native to Northeast India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and the Philippines. However they have also been introduced to places like Florida, Texas, Hawaii and some Caribbean Island where the Tokay Gecko is considered an invasive pest species.

The Tokay Gecko's natural habitat is within the rainforest trees and cliffs, however they regularly visit human habitations where they can be found climbing walls and ceilings in search of prey.

Size:

Tokay Gecko's are the second largest species of gecko in the world, with males growing to an average length of 11-15 inches (30-40cm). Female Tokay Gecko's don’t grow quite as long reaching on average 7-11 inches (20-30cm).

Life span:

The typical life span of Tokay Geckos is 7-10 years in the wild, however if cared for correctly in captivity they can live longer than 18 years.

General appearance:

Tokay Geckos have a very distinctive appearance comprising a blue-grey body and sporting spots which range from a light yellow to a bright red colouration. Male Tokay Geckos are more brightly coloured than females, which forms part of their mating display as females often prefer to mate with brightly coloured males. Both sexes however, have the ability to slightly lighten or darken their base colour to help blend in with their surroundings.

Enclosure:

As Tokay Geckos are an arboreal species of lizard, they require a vivarium which has more height than length. A standard 20 gallon high aquarium (24"L x 12"W x 16"H) with screened lid can be used to provide an adequately sized living enclosure, however, a larger tank is always recommended. Male Tokay Geckos should always be housed separately as they are extremely territorial and will fight for control. If you wish to keep more than 1 Tokay Gecko, you should either keep a group of females or alternatively 1 male and several females if you are not worried about them breeding.

Temperature:

Day time temperatures should be maintained at around 78-86F with a 10-15F drop in temperatures at night. As Tokay Geckos are a nocturnal species they do not require a basking spot, but you should provide a temperate gradient so they can regulate their body temperature by moving from the hot end to the cool end respectively.
                       

Humidity:

Tokay Geckos originate from tropical rainforests and as such require relatively high levels of humidity to survive. You should aim to keep humidity levels inside their enclosure between 40-80% which can be achieved by ensuring their substrate is always kept moist through daily misting, or by placing a large shallow water bowl on the cooler end of their vivarium. Potted plants can be used to make their vivarium look more natural and are a great way to boost humidity levels the natural way.

Heat/Light:

The best way of heating your Tokay Geckos vivarium is through the use of a two heat bulbs. An incandescent spot light can be used to raise temperatures during the day, however this must be switched to a red, blue, black or night glo bulb as to not disrupt their nocturnal behaviour at night. Ceramic heaters can also be used which do not emit light, however these can get extremely hot so must be placed within a mesh cage so your Tokay Gecko cannot reach them. Heat mats are very rarely used by Tokay Geckos so you should avoid using these where possible as they only heat up the substrate. Being an arboreal species which spends its life in the tree tops, they very rarely venture down onto the ground.
                       

Substrate:

The best substrate to use for your Tokay Gecko is ground coconut fibre as this is non toxic and will not cause impaction if accidently swallowed by your pet gecko. However if you prefer you can use a mixture of potting soil and sand, orchid bark, or even paper towels/newspaper.
                       

Diet:

Tokay Geckos have large appetites and are aggressive eaters when it comes to hunting down their prey. Ideally you should be feeding your Tokay Gecko a large number of smaller food items such as crickets or waxworms every other day. Crickets should form the main staple of their diet however you should occasionally vary this by feeding waxworms, mealworms and other live food items. Adult Tokay Geckos can also be occasionally fed pinkie mice to supplement their diet. All food items should be gut-loaded for 24 hours before being fed to your Tokay Gecko and should be dusted in a suitable reptile calcium/vitamin supplement.
                                   

Maintenance:

Daily spot cleaning to remove faeces from the substrate and walls to prevent a build up of bacteria and parasites. Daily cleaning of the water bowl to ensure fresh clean water is always available for you Tokyo Gecko to drink, and daily misting of the substrate to ensure humidity levels are kept fairly high. The substrate should be replaced every 3-4 months and any cage decorations should be washed with a mild bleach solution (5% bleach).

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