Just bought a Tokay!

stretch · #1 (**permalink**) 06-19-2003, 02:57 AM

I just purchased a beautiful Tokay gecko. I researched the gecko for about a couple of days before I went out and got one. I know what the temps and humidity need to be at. I know what they eat. I know how to decorate the tank. Heres where I got confused every caresheet I read said they would do fine in a 10-20 gallon aquarium and using sand would be fine. So I went out and got a 20 gallon and some sand made by Zoo Med called vita-sand it says its an ultra fine grade to prevent impaction. It also says its a fortified calcium carbonate subtrate. So that was the best sounding sand so I got it. But today I found another care sheet on them and it said that not to use sand and they need to be in at least a 65 gallon aquarium. Is this true? Heres the set-up he's currently in a 20 gallon, vita-sand, backround wall with moss and sticks and vines coming out of it, a half log, ,moss on half of the floor ,waterbowl and a 50 watt heat lamp on one side. I wouldn't even be asking except I just found that care sheet that didn't match anything else I read. Thanks for any help.

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Constrictor_BO · #2 (**permalink**) 06-19-2003, 08:26 PM

There are tons of caresheets out there and most tell you something different. The setup you have sounds good to me. 20 gal tank is more than enough space for it. Although you have all that decor in the tank, you will most likely find the tokay hanging out near the top of the tank. I have seen many caresheets that say not to use the calci sand but I use it with my leos and never had a problem with it. I like the more coase sand though, it is a lot less dusty to deal with.
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SnakePool · #3 (**permalink**) 06-20-2003, 01:55 PM

Congrats on the Tokay! I had a pair a while back. The male was 13.5in long and a real monster.

Lose the sand, mainly because tokays need humidity... a lot of it. If you don't have enough it could tear the tokays pads off. Use cypress mulch. 20gl aquaria is good for a while until the gecko gets some size. IF it is male watch out he will get big. They do not like to be handled. IF you get bit your in for a surprise, they don't let go easily and they bite down hard. You will bleed a lot. I picked my male up one day to clean out the cage and he whipped around fast and tore up my right hand. They won't come out during the day but are really active at night. They will spend a lot of time behind stuff up around the top. 55gl aquariums are better, they offer more space and more space for decor, which they will love.

Good Luck!
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Constrictor_BO · #4 (**permalink**) 06-21-2003, 01:03 PM

hmmm. I did leave out the humidity issue there didnt I. Calci sand can still be used if humidy is kept up. It all depends on the setup and different things used to keep the humidity. The setup I saw was done with calci sand and it looked good, they used the lighter colored sand and it gave off a bit more brightness to the tank.
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stretch · #5 (**permalink**) 06-21-2003, 08:08 PM

I mist the tank three times a day. I also have a lot of moss in there that I keep damp all the time. It has a screen lid, but I cover that with foil. I just changed my red light to a 60 watt che. Also the backround wall has moss all over it. (it came attached to the wall). Another question I had is how do I know the the gecko is eating the crickets. I don't see them in the tank but they might be hiding. I don't want to take the tank apart because I barely brought him home and I don't want to stress him out to much. He ate 1 pinkie since he's been with me. I offered another but he wouldn't take it so I threw like 2 medium crickets in there. Let me know if you guys have any helpful tips for me.Thanks [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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eddie · #6 (**permalink**) 06-21-2003, 08:35 PM

Well, he ate the pink, so ya know he IS eating now. But you may have to break down and watch him when you put the crix in, just to be sure he hunts for them and does eat them.

And you may be able to tell if the crix are hiding in the cage by shaking stuff a little bit, as crix are erather jumpy and will most likely move when what they are on is moved a bit.
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stretch · #7 (**permalink**) 06-21-2003, 10:18 PM

Since Tokays are nocturnal I've been offering the prey items at night. The thing I was wondering is can I only offer at the night or can it be during the daytime also. I was also wondering when do they start barking their famous "to-kay" sounds I've been dying to hear it. I heard it was only during breeding season.
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Constrictor_BO · #8 (**permalink**) 06-22-2003, 12:35 PM

You can offer the crickets at anytime day or night. They will eat when they want to eat. If you offer in the daytime though, it might get him to change his feeding pattern so you can watch. Hard to tell bu worth a try. As for the barking I dont know.
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