Tokay Gecko Behavior and Temperament . This leucistic morph sits comfortably in the handler’s hand because it is held loosely and does not feel threatened. Most of the bites are innocuous and an adult’s immune system can easily fight the infection. I believe that pairs often bond, and this is a great sign that the pair is compatible. This is the reason why you need to thoroughly wash the wound with running water and antibacterial soap to remove the saliva (that possibly contains harmful agents) from the wound. Your objective is to have short, positive sessions with the lizard where it sits on your hand without you restraining or hurting it. Even captive breeds have this behavior of biting, and even the most experienced Tokay gecko owners still get bitten from time to time. $20 rehoming fee. Tokay geckos, like other reptiles and gecko species, need an environment that is warmer than the normal room temperature. Keep humidity between 60 and 80 percent, and use a screen cover that allows the cage to breathe. This species is collected from the wild in great numbers tosatisfy some cultures’ medicinal beliefs. These systems work well with many lizard species. It is best that you consult a pediatrician even if the wound appears to be healing properly. Utilizing a dripper system is another way to provide water. Tokay geckos have thick, cylindrical bodies, with heads set apart from their necks. They are fascinating to observe, and with a little invested time, they can be tamed into tractable little beasts. Although generally ferocious in appearance, this bite causes only superficial damage. If you’ve noticed every time you see their pictures they always have their mouth open. Most of this information is found in the internet and usually in forums where a free flow of opinions, knowledge, and experiences occur between “Tokay experts” and new Tokay breeders or owners or simply someone interested. Coco peat and sphagnum moss also work, but they may stick to the animal in damp conditions. Many lizards will visit the dish and take what they need. Tokay Gecko : Gekko gecko Photo Fiona Sunquist ©. In addition to femoral pore sexing, check the pair of anal pores beneath the lizard’s vent. Tokay geckos are not the simple lizards some herpkeepers may think they are. Be cautious and stay safe, even you’re the most experienced Tokay gecko owner. Of all geckos, Tokays are most likely to fight back rather than to lose their tails when threatened. With your palm on a clean cloth, apply direct pressure on the wound for 3 to 5 minutes. In the wild, Tokay geckos are exposed to a wide range of pathogens and other living organisms. After our article on “Top 10 Tokay Gecko Facts”, which you can read here, we thought it would be fun to post an article on 10 terrific tokay gecko morphs! Because more and more people are becoming interested on Tokay geckos, the demand for “Tokay gecko care” information is also becoming more and more in demand. If you see this, you are very close to having a friendly tokay. Your eyes are intimidating, and if you put the lizard above you, it may decide that your hand is a good place to collect its thoughts. This may stress lizards and disturb their secretive nature. Tokays generally seem to like tightfitting hides, so an adult is more likely to appreciate a piece of PVC 11⁄2 to 2 inches in diameter than one 3 to 4 inches in diameter. I prefer ultrafine calcium powder that is nearly tasteless and sticks well to crickets. Red light bulbs or ceramic heat emitters create effective basking spots for this nocturnal species. Daytime and nighttime temperatures should be maintained properly to keep your Tokays healthy and comfortable especially at night time – when they are more active and hunt for their food. Well, most of these organisms are not dangerous to humans. However, they can be the ideal captive for a … Given the proper care Tokay geckos are safe pets. A walking gecko is a very good sign that the animal is calming down and thinking. Once tame, this species is reluctant to bite, and it can be handled much like a leopard gecko. Immature captive-bred males generally tolerate each other but not when they get older. One is a warning bite where the lizard stands its ground while your hand invades its territory, the enclosure. Consult Your Doctor. It took effort to tame this peach-headed leucistic morph named Lucifer. Optimal ambient air temperatures for tokays are between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but the geckos tolerate nighttime drops down into the mid-70s. Nevertheless they are easy to care for and make good pets when tamed. The behavior seems more common with males than females. A 3- to 4-inch layer of substrate that can be misted to increase ambient humidity makes for effective bedding. Also captive breeds are more tamed and are used to human presence, so they are less likely to bite. In the wild, these geckos are known to be highly territorial. In the wild male tokays are very territorial, but they allow females into their territory to mate, lay a clutch of eggs, leave, and return to mate and lay more eggs. But nonetheless, Tokay geckos are pretty peaceful animals spending most of their day sleeping in their hide and go out at night to hunt but they have a very short temper and they are very brave. Once the lights go out and the animal is comfortable, it investigates its environment. Keepers who visit their tokays at night may notice that they can be heard rushing back to their retreat until the “danger” passes. After cleaning the wound and finally stopping the bleeding make sure to apply some antiseptic to prevent possible infection. Don’t try to pull them as their teeth are too small that it might break easily, and may get stuck in your skin. Looking for a new home for my tokay gecko. Tokays are extremely territorial and aggressive, so they will bite! Hold still and wait; once it feels it can get away, it is more likely to let go.