Away from Tokays 7 days at a time

Devil'sRival · #1 10-29-2009, 01:59 AM

I haven't got the tokays yet but I plan to get a pair in June. My problem is that I work in the oilfield 7 days on 7 days off. I have most things figured out and I've done a lot of research. What's got me is keeping up the humidity for the 7 days I'm at work. I've thought about using a fogger or some kind of misting system on a timer but would that be adequate for that long without hand misting? If the fogger would work could someone point me in the direction of a good but fairly cheap diy fogger?

Here's what I've got so far. I have a 40g 18"w/17"d/36"h tank with a sliding screen top that I'm going to turn on end and make a new door for. I haven't decided on using glass or plexi but the top 6"-12" will be screen to allow for heating and some airflow. I'm going to use great stuff, silicone, and Eco earth to make the background. I'll most likely go with fake plants for coverage. I know live plants help with humidity but idk if I can keep them alive. Going to use peat moss as bedding with rocks for the false bottom. I'll have to do trial and error with the heating to get it right but that will be done before I get the tokays.

My wife aggreed to feed them but she won't go in the roach bin (Blatta lateralis). I'm thinking I can set up individual containers for each feeding so that all she has to do is put the vitamin supplements on them and dump them in a ceramic bowl. Do you guys use a bowl to feed from or just let the prey run loose untill they're caught? Any thoughts on how I could make the feeding easy for her to do and me to set up would be appreciated along with any other advice. I can count on her to feed but she'll probably forget to mist the tank enough.

My original plan was to buy the pair at the New Orleans expo in June. Since I've been on here though I've noticed that cb tokays are more common than I had thought. I'd much rather buy cb than wc but what is the price difference? The only ones I can find online are the exspensive morphs which I can't afford. All I want is a pair of normal cb tokays preferably small and definitely not siblings. Could someone give me a price range? I'm waiting till June regardless if I buy online or the expo in order to give me plenty of time to get the tank ready. Thanks in advance for anyone that helps.

Devil'sRival · #2 10-29-2009, 04:56 PM

Anybody got some ideas or helpful tips? I know it's a ways off but I want to get started to work out all the kinks.

**Riverside Reptiles** · #3 10-29-2009, 05:58 PM

I don't think it's necessary to have a mister or fogger for your tokays even if you're away for 7 days at a time. Can't the wife just give a quick spray every day or two? They don't need to be THAT humid. And seeing as you live in Louisiana, I imagine it's pretty humid all on it's own. I don't put my roaches in a bowl for my tokays. Tokay are ferocious hunters. I just let the roaches free in their enclosure. Your idea to divide the roaches up into separate containers for the wife is a good idea. Current market on normal captive bred tokay is around $50 each + shipping. There's plenty of people here that breed them. When you're actually ready to purchase, I'd suggest posting a "wanted" ad in the classifieds here.

Devil'sRival · #4 10-29-2009, 08:50 PM

Thanks for the reply.

I may be able to get her to mist but the fogger was for insurance if she forgets. I was only going to have it come on once a day for long enough to fill the tank. If misting will do though I'll be fine with that because it's cheaper. Only reason for thinking a dish is so they get the vitamins and so I won't have roaches breeding in my tank. Watching them hunt sounds better so I'll go with that.

How does everything else sound? I know 40g is minimum for a pair but do they do well in that size? Any other tips still appreciated, I want to give them the best care I can.

tokeh · #5 11-02-2009, 03:29 AM

this spring i'm going to release some tokay's in the house/bathroom and i'm not planning on spraying the whole house. they verry easily get used to new surroundings and don't really need humid surroundings.
just make sure that there is enough to eat.
and dont feed them to much before you're leaving the hoppers and crickets might harm your tokay.

they eat a litle of my female tale.