21/02/2024
Tokay Geckos (my personal favorite geckos)- Being nocturnal, these geckos will sometimes come out during the day to bask and absorb necessary UVA/UVB. A 5-6% UVB bulb is highly recommended to be utilized with a basking spot bulb. Offering UVA/UVB full spectrum lighting aids in health benefits like digestion, proper D3 calcium and vitamin processing to prevent Metabolic bone disease and overall health.
Any full spectrum T5 UVB light needs to be replaced 8-12 months after being plugged in as a requirement for use.
For your plants you will need a full spectrum light to help replicate the lush tropical forest in which a Tokay naturally resides.
With Tokay Geckos being from tropical rainforests these geckos need a heat source that provides a solid basking spot around 82-84° and an ambient temperature of 75° on the cool side. Having the temperature gradient is best for the gecko's overall health to thermoregulate, being cold blooded. A schedule of 12 hours a day for both lights is optimal and can be simplified by using a timer. The bulb we suggest starting with an 18 x 18 x 24 enclosure is a 25w bulb and can be dimmed to help control the lighting with a thermostat probe secured on the hot side to read temperatures. The basking area should not be closer than 6" from the light. Red nighttime bulbs are not recommended to be used with this species.
Spraying down the enclosure twice a day for about 20 seconds will offer a range of humidity variants for optimal temperature and humidity regulation. Suggested levels are between 50-70% with the ambient never dropping below 50% within the enclosure. Consistent high humidity 75%+ may cause bacterial, fungal, or respiratory infections. They will also utilize licking droplets off the foliage and glass walls of the enclosure.
In the wild, these beasts of geckos will readily eat other reptiles, small mammals, small birds and whatever else they can get their strong jaws into. In captivity they will eat a variety of readily available feeder insects such as Crickets, Dubia roaches, Mealworms, Super worms, Hornworms, and heftier items such as pinkie mice can be fed on occasion.
These geckos SHOULD NOT be handled. Today's are a stress easy species that has a tendency to bite and lock its own jaw on whatever it has chosen as its victim. They are a reactive animal with their sharp teeth leaving nice reminders of why they do not like to be messed with. With dedicated patience, moderate taming can be done over time.
