Tokay gecko | Facts & Information
# Tokay Gecko | Facts & Information
Tokay Gecko | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Tokay Gecko
The tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) belongs to the class Reptilia and the family Gekkonidae. Now, at the time of publication of the article, there are two subspecies recognized by the literature: Gekko gecko gecko (LINNAEUS 1758) and Gekko gecko Azhari (MERTENS 1955).
Tokay Gecko
The Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is a fascinating reptile that belongs to the Gekkonidae family. It is one of the largest types of geckos, reaching a length of up to 30 centimeters. With a distinctive appearance and interesting characteristics, the Tokay gecko has become a popular animal in the pet trade and tourism industry.Native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, the Tokay gecko can be found in a wide range of habitats, including tropical forests, plantations, and urban areas. It is named after the distinctive sounds it emits, which resemble a loud "tokay" sound. This species is well adapted to nocturnal life and prefers to hide during the day in tree crevices or other places where it can find shelter.
One of the distinct aspects of the Tokay gecko is its colorful appearance. These lizards have a base color of brown-gray, covered with white, yellow, and blue spots. This combination of colors not only provides successful camouflage in natural environments but also makes these animals visually appealing. However, when they feel threatened or stressed, their colors can change, and their spots become more intense and pronounced.
Another interesting aspect of the Tokay gecko is its ability to stick to smooth surfaces. This characteristic is due to the presence of adhesive pads on their toes, called lamellae. These rigid lamellae are made up of tiny fibers, known as setae, which allow for a firm grip on the surface and easy movement both vertically and horizontally. Their adaptation to climbing on smooth surfaces allows Tokay geckos to occupy inaccessible spaces for other animals and move easily in search of food or a mate.
The diet of Tokay geckos is primarily insectivorous. These reptiles feed on a variety of insects, such as cockroaches, flies, and crickets. Due to special morphological adaptations, such as a large mouth and a sticky tongue, these geckos are capable of capturing prey with remarkable efficiency.
The reproductive process of Tokay geckos is also interesting. These reptiles are monogamous and live in stable pairs. Males display aggressive and territory marking behaviors, marking their areas with specific glandular secretions. After mating, females lay eggs that develop in a safe and warm environment. The incubation period of the eggs ranges from 60 to 90 days, depending on the temperature. The resulting hatchlings are completely independent from birth and can fend for themselves in their surroundings immediately after hatching.
Although the Tokay gecko is an interesting and popular animal in the pet trade, it should be mentioned that capturing and trading them can have a negative impact on wild populations. Therefore, it is important for these reptiles to be protected and benefit from adequate conservation measures in their natural habitat.
In conclusion, Tokay geckos are fascinating animals due to their colorful appearance, ability to stick to smooth surfaces, and interesting reproductive behavior. These reptiles are adaptable and can be found in various environments in Southeast Asia. However, it is important to remember that these animals play an important role in their ecosystems and need to be protected to ensure that the species remains healthy and thrives in their natural environment.
890
Animals
36
Species
8
Languages
32
Facts
Origin
At the moment the species does not appear on the list of endangered animals, on the contrary there are numerous specimens spread all over the world. They have a large distribution area that includes much of Asia, northern India, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, New Guinea, Japan, China, etc.
Tokay Gecko Food
Like other lizards it is a species that prefers insects. In the wild it feeds on various insects and fruits.
If you have purchased one or you are going it is good to know that it can be fed with insects(crickets, grasshoppers), worms (mealworms, superworms) or cockroaches (different types, but beware that there are some bitter species that do not prefer them and may refuse them because in the wild they consume sweet fruits)
Before feeding the animal powder the feed with calcium (can be sold from specialty stores). Every breeder or amateur will make their own feeding schedule.
Some prefer to feed them daily, others do not. I recommend daily meals for better digestion. This way he will use his Predator Instinct more often.
How is a lizard living in a humid climate it is good to provide him with a terrarium with high humidity. If you do not provide this moisture, your skin will be drier, discomfort will appear and you may have skin problems.
It is enough to spray water on the terrarium decor twice a day and thus ensure its water needs. Gecko in general is an arboreal lizard, which likes to climb, is curious and you will not see it on the ground too long under normal conditions.
Features Tokay Gecko
It is one of the largest of the existing gecko species. In captivity they can live up to 20 years under normal conditions. She doesn't have a very good reputation when it comes to her bite.
It is considered a small putbull, if you will, because once bitten it does not let go and we can say that it has enough strength to hurt and produce a wound.
These lizards have several advantages in relation to humans: they are maesti in camouflage, they are fast, they can move on almost any surface and when I say any surface I mean glass, wood, wall, even ceiling. Once you get away it will be hard to catch them so be careful when handling them.
The feet end with fingers that are adhesive on most surfaces, and the eyes have no eyelids and are large. Males are gray-blue in color with red-orange-white dots. Females have more faded colors. Adults weight of 200-300 grams and length of 25-35cm. Females are smaller than males.
They make a species-specific sound:" tokay", hence the name of the lizard.
For those who want to keep a tokay gecko do not forget that the terrarium must be "large" vertically. We can only tell you one thing about size: the bigger the better.
Some breeders say a height of 1m on a 50-50 basis would be enough for two specimens. The temperature can vary between 20 and 30 degrees (night-day), but the humidity should be about 75%.
To keep the humidity is good to put a bowl with water, some lizards will go to drink water if it will be positioned higher.
For the substrate you can use dry napkins, and the decor must necessarily be natural.(branches, creepers, etc.to climb on.)
Tokay Gecko Breeding
Sexual maturity is reached at the age of one year, but immediate mating is not recommended in order to have no problems and for a normal development and birth without problems, considering that the animals grow up to the age of two years.
During the mating season the male makes sounds to call the females "to-kay". Over the course of a season, which generally lasts 4 or 5 months, the two partners will mate several times.
Females lay eggs by sticking them to the bark of branches or various objects in the terrarium. The eggs are guarded by both parents until hatching.
To avoid the risk of the chicks being eaten by the parents, because cannibalism situations are encountered, it is good to move the chicks in an incubator, but carefully so as not to hit them when you detach and manipulate them. Do not twist the eggs when moving them to avoid the risk of the embryos dying.
Incubation lasts from 90 to 120 days. If you have chosen to move the eggs in the incubator it is good to know that the temperature should be between 25 and 30 degrees.
This has a major role in determining the sex of the little ones, the higher temperature gives more chances for the puppies to be males. The substrate is good to be slightly moist.
The newly hatched chicks are about 7 - 8cm long. It is good to move them to individual terrariums so that they do not attack each other or fight over food.
Breeders have obtained over time numerous varieties through selective breeding.
#Photo Gallery of Tokay Gecko
More Tokay Gecko images!
Uncover fascinating facts about Tokay Gecko - from its behavior to habitat and diet. Explore our comprehensive guide to learn more!
Tokay gecko | Facts & InformationTokay Gecko | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Tokay Gecko