Tokay Gecko Care Sheet

The tokay gecko may not be a common pet, but this reptile can make a fantastic addition to your home. With the scientific name of Gekko gecko, the tokay gecko is known for its distinctive appearance.

The skin of the tokay gecko is blue and patterned with vibrant spots of orange or red.

Tokay Gecko Care Sheet

Tokay geckos are nocturnal, meaning that they are primarily active during the night. This species is native to Asia, primarily being found in Taiwan, Bhutan, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.  

Known for being quite aggressive, the tokay gecko is considered a difficult pet to care for. If you are interested in caring for a tokay gecko, you must take the correct steps (see also “Panther Gecko Care Sheet“).

This care sheet will give you all the information that you will need to look after a tokay gecko, including its diet, habitat, and lifespan (see also “Panther Chameleon Care Sheet“).

Tokay Gecko Care Sheet

Size

Adult tokay geckos can reach roughly 15 inches. They can be as long as 16 inches long. Female tokay geckos tend to be a little smaller than males, reaching approximately 12 inches in length.

As a result, it’s essential to find a cage large enough for this creature. Interestingly, tokay geckos are one of the longest species of geckos.

Meanwhile, baby tokay geckos will be around 4 or 5 inches long. 

Behavior 

Tokay geckos tend to be solitary and aggressive creatures. Often, they will only interact with other members of the species when mating.

As a result, you should refrain from putting a male gecko in the same enclosure as a female tokay gecko, as they will likely breed. 

Sadly, this species is far from cuddly. You should always take care when handling a tokay gecko, as they are known to bite humans. This bite can be rather strong, meaning that tokay geckos are not ideal for keeping as pets.

Male geckos are particularly dangerous, as their bites have been known to pierce the skin. This will cause bleeding.

Moreover, you should refrain from placing two adult male tokay geckos in one enclosure. They will become aggressive and fight over territory. 

Generally, you can put two females in the same enclosure, as they are much less violent. Just make sure that there is sufficient space in an enclosure for two adult tokay geckos.

Moreover, you should not keep two females with one male, as they will begin to compete with each other.

As stated, tokay geckos are nocturnal. They are active during the night, while they will mostly have their heads bowed during the daytime so that they can sleep.

Diet

Tokay geckos primarily consume insects. This species will happily eat lots of different types of insects, including mealworms, waxworms, crickets, cockroaches, and grasshoppers.

Fatty insects should be given in small quantities to your geckos, as excessive fat consumption could lead to various health problems, such as obesity. 

Preferably, these insects should be gut loaded. This is the process of feeding nutritional foods to the live prey of your pets. As a result, these nutrients will be passed onto the gecko.

Leafy greens are the best foods to use when gut-loading insects.

To further increase the nutritional value of the gecko, you may want to dust its prey in a calcium supplement. It’s best to use these supplements at least once a week.

However, tokay geckos are omnivores, meaning that they can eat a varied diet (see also “What Does A Leopard Gecko’s Diet Look Like?“). For instance, larger adult tokay geckos will be capable of consuming pinky mice.

You may also want to treat your tokay gecko to the occasional helping of fruit and vegetables to ensure that they have a healthy diet.

It’s important to consider the frequency with which you are feeding the tokay gecko. Younger geckos will need to be fed more often than older ones.

Baby and juvenile geckos should be fed daily. Meanwhile, adult tokay geckos will only need to be fed once every two days. However, adult tokay geckos will require larger portions. 

In terms of hydration, tokay geckos won’t need much water. Yet, it’s recommended that you provide a source of water so that your gecko can drink whenever it feels thirsty.

In the wild, the tokay gecko will lick droplets on their branches to give them moisture. As a result, you should give your gecko a small bowl of water, which should be replaced every day. 

Tokay Gecko Care Sheet

Habitat

Achieving the perfect enclosure settings is essential for looking after one of these pets. 

This gecko comes from locations that are known for their warm temperatures. As a result, you will need to use equipment to mimic this natural environment.

The temperatures should be between 80°F and 85°F. During the night, tokay geckos can survive in slightly cooler temperatures of approximately 70°F.

In terms of humidity, a tokay gecko enclosure should be between 60% and 80%. Use a probe to measure the humidity levels. Paired with this humidity, the enclosure should have good ventilation.

If the ventilation is poor, fungal issues can occur.

It’s also a good idea to decorate the habitat of your tokay gecko to reflect its natural habitat. This will help the reptile acclimate to its new home. To do this, you should add vines and branches to the reptile enclosure.

You can also add plants, whether they be real or fake, to the habitat, though you should ensure that they are non-toxic for your pet.

Availability

Due to their aggressive nature, tokay geckos are not widely available. When searching for one of these creatures, you must choose a reliable breeder.

Lifespan

When treated properly, the average lifespan of a tokay gecko is ten years. However, they have been known to live for as long as 20 years. As a result, caring for a tokay gecko is quite a large commitment.

Final Thoughts

The tokay gecko is a rather difficult pet to care for, meaning that it is not best suited to beginners. Yet, if you follow this care sheet, you can ensure that your tokay gecko receives the treatment that it deserves, including the perfect habitat condition and diet (see also “Savannah Monitor Care Sheet“).

Levi Johnson
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