Tokay geckos should be kept in an enclosure where the temperature stays between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and drops to mid-70s at night. To provide the necessary warmth, place a heat lamp over a glass screen or a branch under the heat lamp. Geckos can climb close to the heat source for comfort. You should maintain a temperature range of 90 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases in Tokay geckos can be extremely dangerous, but luckily they are usually very easy to prevent. These diseases are caused by a bacterial group called enterobacteriaceae, which are found in both humans and pets. Infections in Tokay geckos are usually easy to treat with antibiotics. The best way to prevent infection is to keep the tank and water clean, and change the substrate when necessary.
During the early stages of infection, your Tokay Gecko may appear perfectly healthy, but within a few months, the animal may begin to show signs of disease. This includes bowed limbs, kinked tails, and a rubbery jaw. A mild infection can be cured by increasing your pet’s calcium intake. If the infection is more severe, you should consider having your veterinarian perform an inspection of your Tokay Gecko’s enclosure. Calcium injections can help to prevent further damage, but they will not correct deformities.
Diet
You must pay attention to the Tokay Gecko’s diet if you wish to ensure that your new pet will thrive. Aside from its staple diet of insects, this reptile also needs to supplement its vitamin and mineral intake. Calcium supplements are given in powder form along with vitamin D3 and other nutrients to aid in calcium absorption. Calcium supplements are available in most specialized reptile shops. If you wish to feed your pet more nutritious food, you should consider providing it with powdered calcium, vitamin D3 and multivitamins. Always buy high-quality supplements for your Tokay Gecko.
Butterworms are another type of food that your Tokay Gecko may enjoy. These are high in protein, but do not have the high fat content of mealworms. Silkworms, on the other hand, are a good source of calcium and low fat and may trigger a feeding response in your reptile. You can also supplement your pet’s diet with leafy greens, but geckos rarely prefer fruit and vegetables.
Enclosure
Tokay geckos are insectivores, so they thrive in high humidity, but in their captive environment, they do best on a diet of insects. You should offer your new pet a variety of insects, which are about as large as its head. When choosing food, be sure to feed them as often as they need. If you’re feeding them every day, try to offer as many insects as possible, but don’t let them eat more than they can eat in five minutes.
Bedding for your new pet should be high in humidity, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be unappealing. A few pieces of cypress mulch or reptile bark can provide plenty of moisture. A layer of live moss or sphagnum moss will also add to humidity in your new pet’s habitat. The substrate should be moist, but not so damp it becomes impaction forming. Tokay geckos like vertical areas, and a cluttered cage can provide them with these places.
Hand-washing
Tokay Geckos are very clean and need hand-washing only twice a week. This is due to their unique, dynamic self-cleaning mechanism, which makes them particularly easy to clean. A single wash of the gecko’s feet is sufficient for the average Tokay to cling to a glass substrate with an average force of 15.7 N. Hand-washing also helps to increase the speed and extent of self-cleaning.
A recent study found that tokay specimens shipped to the United States are notorious carriers of Salmonella. These bacteria are common in garbage dumps and could potentially harm the health of their owners. Proper hand-washing is important for the health of both your Tokay Gecko and your own. If you have a clean environment and practice good enclosure sanitation, your chances of contracting salmonella are low.
UVA heat lamps
Tokay geckos are insectivores and need a balanced diet of insects. They eat mostly insects in the wild, although some may also eat vertebrates. Feeding time should be at least once a day for juvenile tokays, and every other day for fully grown tokays. The amount of insects they consume should be no more than half the size of their head.
Tokay geckos prefer temperatures of eighty to ninety degrees Fahrenheit during the day and a cool room temperature of about 80-85 degrees during the night. Heat from an incandescent bulb is acceptable during the day, but must be replaced with nocturnal reptile bulbs or ceramic heat elements at night. Night-time basking lamps are a good choice for a tokay.