Tokay Gecko Not Eating

OsirisTheLeo · #1 07-06-2010, 08:38 PM

Hello everyone. I just recently purchased a 10 month old tokay gecko from a man on craigslist. i got him for $25. The Tokay is actually quite calm as far as i know. I havnt handled him yet because i want him to settle in first. Now the problem. I know i am probably being paranoid but this animal hasn't eaten anything yet. I know it might be the stress of switching environments but i think about my new baby crested i purchased last night and he is eating like a pig. The tokay is in a 20 gallon tall, with many vines, fake and real plants and hides to give him a "jungle" like feel. The substrate i am using is the Coco bark that comes in the blocks. I released 10 normal sized crickets in his enclosure with a small piece of fruit for them to eat. He hasnt touched a single one. What is wrong? Is this the stress of the move? Or does he simply not notice the crickets roaming about? Also he has lightened up a ridiculous amount as when i got him he was dark. The man said when he bought him he started eating once he lightened up. I know im probably being paranoid but i wanna be sure.
Thanks Guys!

Will3 · #2 07-06-2010, 08:52 PM

When i got my tokaygecko female (age unknown but 10inches long) it took about a week and now its eating like crazy.

OsirisTheLeo · #3 07-06-2010, 09:14 PM

How do you recommend feeding him? Just throw the crickets in there? They like to burrow and im afraid he wont be able to spot them. Also hes kinda skinny so i want to feed him super worms but they dont move enough for him to take notice. Any suggestions on how to feed him these?

Will3 · #4 07-06-2010, 09:18 PM

I feed mine dubia roaches and mealworms, with tweezers, tried superworms aswell but they just seem to eat eachother even with food for them, try grabbing the cricket and hold it infront of the gecko, with tweezers or fingers.

OsirisTheLeo · #5 07-06-2010, 09:22 PM

thank you for the help ill try that!

**Riverside Reptiles** · #6 07-06-2010, 11:28 PM

You can put his food in a bowl. I use "gladware" type bowls which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They're cheap too. Plus hey're fairly soft and won't injure the gecko if he dive bombs into the bowl to get his food.

OsirisTheLeo · #7 07-08-2010, 01:20 AM

I actually used a gladware bowl and put superworms in it. They didnt have enough movement so he didnt take them. Also crickets do not stay in the bowl. Hes skinny so i need to beef him up a bit but i cant if he wont eat

**Riverside Reptiles** · #8 07-08-2010, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsirisTheLeo

I actually used a gladware bowl and put superworms in it. They didnt have enough movement so he didnt take them. Also crickets do not stay in the bowl. Hes skinny so i need to beef him up a bit but i cant if he wont eat

Roaches man...they cant climb or jump but they move plenty enough to stimulate feeding response. If he's really so thin that he's at the point of being a major concern, try a couple of live pinkie mice or some wax worms. But, they are all fat and will simply put weight on him...no nutritional value what so ever.

OsirisTheLeo · #9 07-08-2010, 04:27 AM

Its been a week since ive had him and still no interest in his food at all. Im not sure where i can get roaches around here but ill try them if i can get ahold of them. I dont understand why he wont eat. Its got me quite worried as i do not want to lose him. The super worms i have tried feeding him have not triggered a feeding response. I even tried to use feeding tongs and it did nothing. Hes not very aggressive so its not like i can pop one in his mouth when hes in his stance. So if there are anymore suggestions i will happily take them.
Thanks guys.

**Riverside Reptiles** · #10 07-08-2010, 09:33 AM

If you've only had him for a week, and he's wild caught, I'd just throw some crickets in there, make sure he has some water, and then just totally leave him alone for about a week. If he's wild caught, he's likely VERY stressed. And even just having you look at him is very stressful. These are shy animals that take time to learn to trust you. So give him a break for a week and let him sort things out himself. Maybe even cover the front of the enclosure with something so that he's not stressed by the activity going on around him.