Tokay Gecko
(Gekko gekko)
Habitat: Tropical Rainforest    Diet: Insectivores    Adult Size: 10-14 inches    Lifespan: Up to 20 years in captivity, around 10 in wild    Native To: South East Asia
 

Did You Know:

  • These highly vocal lizards get their name from their "to-kay" calls, heard mostly during the breeding season. Other calls include barking, grunting and trilling sounds.

  • The Tokay Gecko’s toe pads are covered in microscopic filaments that can cling to glass, allowing it to walk across a glass ceiling. Contrary to popular belief, the feet are not actually sticky.

  • In their native South East Asia, many Tokay geckos live in the eaves of houses, and are popular with homeowners because they devour insects.

The material below is a general guideline, and is not intended to serve as your sole source of pet care information. Visit a veterinarian trained in caring for reptiles and consult a broad range of literature to ensure that your pet receives adequate care.
 

What You Should Know About The Tokay Gecko

The Basics:

Tokay Geckos measure only 2-4” at birth; growing to a stout 12” by the time they reach maturity at 18-24 months of age. Their blue-gray skin is covered with orange or pink spots. Though they can live up to 20 years with expert care, a lifespan of half that length is not uncommon. These nocturnal animals are among the least sociable of all reptiles.

Enclosure:
They Need A Tall Enclosure:

A single adult should be housed in at least a 20- gallon enclosure, tall enough (at least 20”) for climbing and spacious enough to provide a thermal gradient. Arboreal or tree-dwelling creatures, Tokays enjoy a woodland setting with branches to climb and real or artificial plants throughout the enclosure to hide in. Any climbing branch should be at least as wide as the lizard's body, to offer adequate support. If real plants are used, they must be non-toxic and care should be taken to remove all traces of fertilizers and chemicals.

Substrate:
Just Like The Rainforest Floor:

Orchid bark mulch, coconut fiber, fir bark or a mixture of potting soil and sand make excellent substrates that hold moisture well without readily supporting mold growth. Substrate should be spot cleaned daily, and replaced completely every month
Lighting:
Use A Night Light: 		Since Tokay Geckos are nocturnal, some lizard keepers claim that they do not require exposure to the UVB lighting that Day Geckos and most other reptiles need. We disagree, and believe that providing UVB lighting in the enclosure will
enhance the well being of the gecko. There are a variety of full spectrum lights available at PSP that emit UVB light. Fluorescent lamps producing UVB rays should be replaced
every six months. Glass and plastic block out UVB light, so overhead light sources should be kept behind a wire mesh cover, not a glass or acrylic tank top. A timer should be used with the light source to vary the level of exposure according to the season, providing 10 hours of light in the winter, and 14 hours in the summer. Since Tokay Geckos are nocturnal, their keepers should consider installing a reptile "moon light" in the enclosure. This will make it easy to observe the animals.  Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

Temperature:
They Like It Hot:

The Tokay Gecko's enclosure should have an ambient
temperature around 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and around 70-75 at night. Providing a thermal gradient allows the gecko to regulate its body temperature by moving
around the enclosure. Additionally, a basking area with a temperature of 85-90 must be provided during the day. To avoid burns, the source of the basking heat must be screened
off or positioned outside the enclosure. Using too powerful a bulb will make the enclosure too hot, and could prove fatal to the animal. Being tree-dwellers, Tokay Geckos do not benefit at all from underfloor heating. Temperatures should be monitored by three thermometers: one in the warmer zone, one in the cooler zone and one in the basking area. Important - see the Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating below.

Note About Day/Night Light Cycles and Heating:

All reptiles, including this pet, must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure to maintain their biological rhythms. (See the lighting entry above for the specific length of this animal’s day/night cycle.) The day period must be light; and night must be dark. A timer should be used to set day/night periods. If a heat source is required to maintain correct nighttime temperatures, use heat mats or strips mounted below or on the side of the tank, infrared heat lamps, ceramic heat emitters, or a combination of these products. This will allow the enclosure to be heated while remaining dark. Follow directions carefully with all products. If ceramic heat emitters are used always choose fixtures with porcelain or ceramic sockets and to protect against fires do not place them by dry wood or flammable fabrics. Ceramic heat emitters must be kept out of the reach of children and all pets, including dogs and cats.

Diet:
A Buggy Banquet:

While crickets are probably Tokays’ favorite snack, to ensure a balanced diet a variety of other insects such as commercially raised superworms, roaches, wax moths, locusts and mealworms should also be offered. Waxworms can be given as an occasional treat, but their high fat content makes them an unsuitable part of the regular diet. Never feed the animal wild-caught insects, as they can transmit disease. Worms that are fed to a Tokay Gecko should be freshly molted. All insects should be dusted with a reptile vitamin and calcium powder, and “gut loaded.” Larger Tokays can also be given frozen and thawed pinkie mice, but never more than one per week. Adults should be fed 2-3 times a week and babies daily. Important -- It is necessary to provide calcium and vitamin supplements as part of the diet. Please read the supplement section below:
Supplements: Dust insects with calcium supplement and vitamin supplement. As a rule, a growing juvenile's food should be dusted more often than an adult's. Consult product labels a veterinarian and outside literature for specific instructions on supplementing. Avoid over-supplementing food.
Feeding Tips: Be careful not to offer insects that are too large for the animal. A good rule of thumb is that a cricket should never be larger than the distance between the Tokay’s eyes, or the distance from its eyes to its nose, or wider than its mouth. Make sure
that any worms fed to the Tokay are freshly molted to reduce the amount of exoskeleton ingested. Uneaten insects should be removed promptly from the enclosure. Hatchlings should be fed daily, while adults require feeding 3-4 times a week.
A NOTE ABOUT WATER: All water given to this pet for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals. (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. If tap water is used, you should treat it with a dechlorinating treatment or allow it to stand for at least 24 hours before being introduced to the pet's enclosure to allow the chlorine to escape. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions
Water: Many Tokay Geckos will not take water from a bowl, but will instead "drink" by taking droplets from leaves. However, a shallow bowl of clean fresh chlorine-free water should always be kept in the gecko's enclosure. This will help maintain humidity levels. Since the Tokay Gecko is from a tropical environment, humidity in its enclosure should be at least 70-percent. The enclosure should be sprayed nightly with chlorine-free water, not unfiltered tap water.


How to Handle A Tokay Gecko
 Tokay Geckos do not like to be handled, and will most likely inflict a painful bite if approached too closely. They should be handled only when absolutely necessary. Wear thick gloves, and remember to wash your hands to remove the scent of any other animal. Then, place your hands under the animal’s belly and gently scoop it up towards you. Allow it to rest in your palm and curl your fingers over its back, but avoid using too much pressure. Never grasp a Tokay Gecko by the tail. The animal has the ability to detach sections of its tail when captured, regrowing the lost portion within about three weeks. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling any lizard.


Look Out For This:
Typically, the Tokay Gecko is not the friendliest reptile, and willingly bites anyone who bothers it. Males in particular can be aggressive and should never be housed together. Most are wild caught, so you will want to take them for a veterinarian visit.


Recommended Tokay Gecko Supplies:

  • A tall enclosure with a secure lid

  • UVB light source

  • Heat lamps

  • Three thermometers, so temperature can be monitored at both ends of the enclosure, and in basking area

  • Substrate

  • Plant spray mister

  • Plants and braches, real or artificial