Defining Characteristics:

• Nocturnal
• One of the largest gecko species
• Tropical
• Infamous bold, feisty attitudes
• Long lifespan
• Beautiful display animals

Name: Gekko gecko, also known as the Tokay Gecko for the distinctive mating calls that sound like they’re saying their own name.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: An 18x18x24 can house a juvenile tokay, while adults will require a 2’x2’4’ enclosure. Tokays are highly territorial and need to be kept individually. 

A tropical bioactive setup is strongly recommended for this species. A moisture-retentive substrate, such as Tropical Biobedding, works well to hold humidity while also providing a cushion, should they fall from their perch. A generous layer of leaf litter should be added on top of the substrate.

Tokays are a strictly arboreal species, so they will need different kinds of climbing materials provided for their health and wellbeing. Cork flats and/or branches, vines, manzanita wood and driftwood are all good climbing materials, as well as some live tropical plants to use as hides. 

A feeding ledge should also be mounted to one side of the enclosure, as they are not likely to go to the ground for their food.

Check out our juvenile complete habitat kit, where we've put together what you'll need for a great Tokay setup!

Temperature (°F): Tokay geckos can be kept at ambient temperatures of 80-85 degrees. A basking spot of 90-100° must be maintained during the day. This can be achieved with a heat lamp positioned at the top of the enclosure with a vine or branch directly underneath, as this will best mimic how they would find a heat source in the wild. Nighttime temperatures can be kept at 76-80 degrees.

UV lighting is strongly recommended. Not only will they synthesize D₃ from ambient UVB radiation and incidental exposure, but they will also use the UVA wavelengths visible to all reptiles to properly inform basking behavior and circadian rhythm. UV lighting should be focused on their basking site and feature Ferguson zone 1 levels of UV radiation. Animals should also be provided opportunities to escape from UV exposure throughout the rest of their enclosure.

Temperature should be monitored with a digital thermometer, and the basking spot can be checked with an infrared thermometer or temperature gun.

Humidity: Tokay geckos are a tropical species and require an ambient humidity of 60-80%, with levels leaning towards the higher side overnight. Ambient humidity can be monitored with a digital hygrometer. 

This species should be misted twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, with the goal of providing droplets of water on the walls of the enclosure from which the geckos may drink as well as maintaining proper moisture levels in the substrate. A fogger or humidifier can be helpful in maintaining higher humidity during the nighttime. 

The enclosure should have enough ventilation so that the surface dries within a few hours of misting. A small, shallow water dish can be mounted to the wall of the enclosure to provide a constant source of drinking water but is not required with regular misting.

Size: Hatchling Tokays range from 2-3 inches. Adult males reach a length of 13-16 inches, while adult females grow to be 8-12 inches.

Age: Tokay geckos live 15+ years in captivity with proper husbandry.

Feeding: Tokay geckos can handle feeder crickets from 1/2 inch to adult size, favoring smaller prey items as juveniles and preferring larger prey items as they age. Dubia and discoid roaches are a great addition to their staple feeder rotation, while other feeders such as mealworms, superworms, hornworms, silkworms, crested gecko diet, and even pinky mice or captive-bred feeder lizards can be offered as occasional treats.

Offering insects in an escape-proof feeding bowl will minimize the number of bugs that escape and hide among the enclosure. Feeder insects should be lightly dusted with a calcium and multivitamin supplement. If provided proper UV lighting, we recommend Repashy Calcium Plus LoD, otherwise, Calcium Plus should be offered to account for the lack of natural Vitamin D₃ creation.

Sexing: Tokay Geckos are sexable as early as 6 months old, but are most reliably sexed at 1 year. Males will feature a very prominent, conspicuous hemipenal bulge at the base of their tail, and will exhibit large and pronounced femoral pores on their inner thighs. Additionally, adult males are usually larger than their female counterparts, and typically more brightly colored. 

Tokay Geckos sold by Josh’s Frogs are not sexed at the time of sale.

Color/Pattern: Tokay geckos typically have a pale gray to blue base color with raised orange/red spots. Patternless Tokays lack the colored spots and don a more solid body color, and the two-toned banding is also absent in this morph. Our patternless geckos are the olive/emerald variety. They can lighten and darken their skin colors as a response to a variety of external factors, such as temperature, humidity and mood. This is commonly referred to as "firing up" or "firing down".

Social Behavior: Tokay Geckos should be kept as solitary animals unless intended for breeding, as they are incredibly territorial and will exhibit aggressive behavior towards each other, regardless of sex. They can be kept no more than one female to one male pair per enclosure if intended for breeding, and while they do develop pair bonds with each other, it's strongly recommended to keep close supervision of the pair in case aggression develops.

Tokays are primarily nocturnal, but can be active during early morning and evening. They are notorious for their attitudes and are typically more of a display animal, but can be somewhat tamed to tolerate minor handling with a lot of time and patience.

Breeding: Breeding season starts in spring and will last about four to six months. Males will use a loud call that resembles their name to attract females, which can be heard from several feet away. Females will lay a clutch of two eggs about once a month during the duration of their breeding season. Tokays are typically easy to breed and require very little incentive as long as they’re healthy. They also are unique as both males and females will protect the eggs and then stay with their young after they hatch and will continue caring for them for several months. 

Natural Range: Most Tokays in captivity can be traced back to origins in southeast Asia, with naturally occurring populations in Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago. They are typically found in tropical rainforests but have also been found in more manmade environments in cohabitation with humans where they serve as pest control. 

History in the Hobby: These animals are notorious for their bold, even sometimes aggressive attitudes and their distinctive calls, but can make beautiful and rewarding pets with patience and good husbandry. In parts of southeast Asia, Tokays are regarded as bringers of luck, good fortune, and fertility. They are quickly rising in popularity because of their striking colors and large size. 

Links of Interest: 

• reptifiles.com - Tokay Gecko Care Sheet
• nationalzoo.si.edu