Tokay Gecko is one of the most amazing creatures of the lizard world they are unique because of their slender body, striking color, and vocal nature. Their body coloration varies between blue and grey with yellow and red spots. They also can change their skin tone to blend with their surroundings. Keeping Tokay Geckos is not everyone's cup of tea they have a very strong bite and defensive attitude. These geckos are native to Asian countries like India, Bhutan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. They have their fierce nature because they are in the middle of the animal and human food chain. Their bite is very strong that’s the reason they are kept as visual pets and should not be handled unless you are an experienced owner who knows how to deal with aggressive species. If you are looking to create a Gecko tank or terrarium it's not that difficult you just need time, dedication, and space. Read this blog to the end to learn about the housing requirements of the Tokay Gecko.
Tokay Gecko Tank Requirements
These geckos are very active unlike other species so you will need a tall and large reptile terrarium. They love a spacious reptile terrarium that is filled with décor. In the juvenile days of geckos, you can keep them in small size tokay gecko terrariums and later move them to larger spaces when needed. The minimum space needed for a Gecko tank and terrarium is 24"Lx36"H . Their enclosure requirements also depend on the Gecko you choose there are many wild caught Gecko available in the market that don’t set well in the tank environment so it is recommended to only get one from a professional captive breeder as they will easily adjust in the terrarium and thrive normally.
Temperature
In the natural environment, Tokay Gecko spends a lot of time in partial sunlight. In the Gecko tank, they will need a warm spot with a temperature of 80 F and 75 F at the cooler end. If you are living in a colder region you have to pay special attention to these requirements. To achieve the required temperature a special heat mat is attached to the side panel of the glass. You will also need a thermostat to keep the temperature around 80F.
Sometimes the room in which you keep the gecko enclosure is too cold and you feel that the mat is unable to maintain the 80 F temperature at the warm spot. In such conditions place a low voltage basking bulb in the warm end and use it during the day time. Usually, terrariums are well-ventilated and there is very little insulation present in them so if the tank is 45cm wide then it will be easy to maintain a temperature gradient between the cool and warm end.
To keep the temperature in check you need to monitor it and the best practice is to use the thermometer on each side of the enclosure. There will be a little temperature variance between the basking spot and the cooler and it is ok as long as the temperature is maintained on both sides. You can use the simple thermometer for this purpose for more accuracy use a digital probe thermometer.
Humidity
In the natural environment, the Tokay Gecko live in high humidity areas so it’s important to maintain the humidity in the enclosure. Normally spraying in the Gecko tank twice for about 20 seconds will help in maintaining the optimal temperature and humidity. The humidity level needed to maintain is 50-70% and should never drop below 50%. Similarly try not to keep the high humidity consistently over 75% in the enclosure as it will lead to fungal and bacterial infections.
Another way that can help in adding humidity is the use of a water dish. You may never find your Gecko getting into it but it is one of the common ways to add humidity. Humidity can be checked through digital and dial hygrometer but the probe should always be in the shaded area and not under the direct light as it will affect the results.
Lighting
Tokay Geckos are nocturnal so technically they can survive without any kind of UVB light if they are getting enough supplement of vitamin D3. However, it is still important to use a UVB bulb to get the best result rather than only feeding the supplements.
UVB lighting is very tricky, this is because to get the proper intensity of the light it must be placed at a proper distance. The basking branch should not be placed closer than 6” under the lamp. Replace the bulb every year to make sure it works effectively.
Never use spot light that produces UVA heat as there are higher chances that it will burn your lizard. They spend most of their day time hiding and sleeping but once the light is out they come out and start moving comfortably. Some Tokay Geckos take just a few minutes to get active at night. If you visit your Gecko at night you may hear the sound of them running back to the shell until the danger passes. Mostly a cycle of 12 to 14 hours of daylight and night cycle is necessary for this species.
Substrate
The Geckos are dirty animals so it's important to choose the substrate carefully. The main purpose of the substrate is to give a natural look, keep the humidity level ambient, and make the cleaning process easy. One of the naturalistic and most effective substrates is orchid bark. Another option is coconut fiber which proves to be very useful. When putting the substrate in the enclosure bedding is made with soil and bark chips in case you want to put artificial plants. In the case of live plants, there must be a drainage layer that divides fleece or mesh and then adds soil. In other substrate options paper towels are helpful when setting up a quarantine enclosure.
Decoration
Geckos live in tropical forest areas with high humidity and a lot of trees, branches, and vertical roots. Once the substrate is set the next step is to put a lot of decoration to make it attractive for the Geckos. The heavier branches should be kept at the bottom and the multiple shoots on it will provide a route from one side of the tank to the other and from top to bottom. When you are choosing the branches, make sure that at least one out of three must be covered with bark or any other material. This different texture of the branches will not only help in maintaining humidity but also make the terrarium more interesting.
Once the branches are done the next is to put up some water-catching decorations. In the wild Geckos drink water from the droplets caught on the leaves or by the raindrops caught in the hallows or knots of wood.
Although the Tokay Gecko drinks water from the decoration at the top it is still important to put a water dish on the floor to make sure that there is a constant supply of water in the enclosure.
Nutritional requirements
Tokay Geckos love to eat and they can eat different kinds of insects and some occasional treats. In the wild, the Geckos will hunt different types of insects but in the enclosure try feeding them live insects at least three times a week. Feeding a variety of insects will make sure that your Gecko is getting a balanced diet. The different insects that can be fed are Locusts, Crickets, Cockroaches, Super worms, wax worms, and mealworms. Wax worms should be given as a treat as they are high in fat and feeding too much wax worms will hurt the health of your Gecko.
Make sure that your gut loads the insects before you feed them to your Gecko. It will make sure that they will get all the nutrients that your Gecko needs. Another thing you can do to make the insects more nutritious is by supplementing the insects. For adults dust the insects after every three to four feedings it's enough for them. If you are raising young ones then supplement the insect with every feeding.
Some owners reward their geckos with pinkie mice. Pinkies are newborn mice although they are not essential food items they are a good treat. Pinkies have a high level of fat in them and if you feed too many to your Gecko they will get obese and it will have a negative effect on the health of your Gecko. To adult geckos, you can feed pinkies once or twice every week. In the case of adult females who are to be bred soon, you can feed pinkies more often as it will help them to gain weight and go through a healthy pregnancy.
Tokay Gecko Tank Cleaning
Cleaning the Gecko tank is an important factor in maintaining the good health of your gecko. As they are arboreal, they will defecate on the side of the enclosure and high up. However, this can be easily cleaned with the help of damp tissue. On the other hand spot cleaning should be a part of daily routine, any dead food items, or feces should be removed as soon as you find them. Thorough cleaning should be done once a month. This will include disinfecting all equipment and replacing the whole substrate. When you are cleaning the enclosure the gecko should be moved to any temporary location. The best place should be a dark and quiet area to keep the stress level minimum.
Handling
Tokay Geckos are not good at handling and they get extremely defensive when touched and if they feel threatened they will bite. This is why it is important to handle these geckos when it’s essential. When you want to handle the Geckos also use safety gloves as they give very nasty bite sometimes. If you don’t find gloves then the easiest way to handle them is by pinning the head gently and wrapping the fingers around the body and neck gently. This can be very stressful for your Gecko and can be only done when necessary. When you are picking the Gecko handle them gently to make sure you do not damage their toe pads.
Many people have tried to tame their Geckos but it's not an easy job. First of all, you have to try and gain the trust of your gecko and show them that you are not a danger. However, it will take a lot of time be months and there is still no guarantee that it will work on them.
Breeding
Breeding geckos in the terrarium is not a hard task. When you keep male and female in one take they will eventually breed and there is no need to do anything to encourage. If your Geckos are happy, healthy, and in good condition the process will happen eventually, the only thing you need to understand is whether you want this to happen or not. What will be the fate of the babies?
If you want babies then you should give females access to the nesting box. The box should be chosen carefully so that females can move easily. In the box always use a soil mix to keep it humid and to hold the shape.
Once the eggs are laid, incubate them in an incubator at a temperature of 84 F. The Humidity level of the incubator should be checked, and make sure that moisture is trapped well around the eggs. In 90 to 120 days you will see the eggs hatching.
Conclusion
Taking good care of Tokay Geckos is important for their health and well-being. Always follow the guidelines above mentioned in the care sheet to take good care of the Geckos. You can create a suitable environment that looks closer to their natural habitat and make sure they stay comfortable in it. Similarly regularly checking them from time to time about their light, humidity, temperature, and nutrition is also important. Regular observation will help you know about their health and behavior. If you show dedication and pay attention to detail, you can enjoy the fascinating presence of Tokay Geckos as captivating pets in your home.