Why ?

jase81 · #1 05-31-2011, 11:22 AM

as i have been reading in different forums that most people are scared of there tokay's ! i know they have an attittude , but what else is there to be scared of ?

**Riverside Reptiles** · #2 05-31-2011, 11:45 AM

There's nothing to be scared of. It's just a gecko. A lot of people are just scared of being bitten. Do keep in mind though that a large adult tokay can put quite a bite on you. But otherwise, they're a beautiful and interesting species to work with.

jase81 · #3 05-31-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverside Reptiles

There's nothing to be scared of. It's just a gecko. A lot of people are just scared of being bitten. Do keep in mind though that a large adult tokay can put quite a bite on you. But otherwise, they're a beautiful and interesting species to work with.

thanks for the reply

i think all rep's are beautiful and interesting i love watching ma corns on a night

Kita · #4 06-07-2011, 08:17 AM

I can understand people being afraid of them when they hear stories or see photos of what they are capable of with those jaws.

It took over 45 minutes to stop the bleeding from that and it was from one at only 93 grams. Imagine the power of the 150+ gram animals.

MauricesExoticPets · #5 06-07-2011, 09:52 AM

Thats going to leave a mark!

Nearly any animal kept as a pet can bite, more often than not it is when they are scared that the potential exists.

It helps to have a healthy bit of respect for your animals ability to defend itself from what it thinks is an attack. When you intrude into their personal space it should be your understanding that a bite is very likely going to happen.

I just do my best to avoid getting into their personal space and accept that I am the one getting all up in their home and if I get nipped it is more my own fault than anything else.

There are a number of ways to avoid being in a situation where being bitten is a possibility, the first is to simply avoid any and all contact with your geckos (this is often fear based but not always), the second is to use tools (gloves, tongs, etc.), lastly is to work within the limits of each geckos ability to handle your intrusion into their personal space (some tokay geckos are more able to accept people all up in their business than others).

Maurice Pudlo

Kita · #6 06-07-2011, 03:44 PM

This incident was from my rescue male that is the only one I've ever seen to show what I can only describe as pure hatred for humans. He goes out of his way to attack me and even has to live alone because he will take out his frustration on his mate if he can't get to me even when I'm just trying to clean the water bowl on the opposite side of a four foot tank.

My breeder Tokays get handled for tank cleanings in the long run, with the exception of some coming with me to the one expo I sell at a year if I have babies, but I do work with them at those times so that they learn I'm not a threat. That way I can feed, water, and check eggs and babies without them completely freaking out. Most of the time they are inside their tubes when I need to move them so I don't have to handle them at all so they just ride out the temporary move and sit quietly while I work.

I also take into consideration how intelligent this species is and work with them free handed when I need them removed from their tanks because I consider handling equipment stressful and intimidating in the fact that you have to use such force to manipulate them and the animal seems overwhelmed when engulfed by a glove heavy enough to protect your hand. At least that's how I've seen it when watching other people handle animals that way because they certainly act different for me.

I like being able to scoop up my animals instead of having to forcefully grab them as well as being able to hold up a roach to a watching Tokay and have it look at me full on understanding what I have and then letting me slowly hand it to them. My crew get their personal space and respect once they understand there are no more threats in their new lives and aren't reacting out of fear.

This bite happened the last time I tried to free handle the rescue male for moving. It wasn't real long after I'd gotten him and I was still evaluating his responses to determine if he was reacting from fear or just telling me to go away, but he actually did a 180 on me jumping back out of his tank to do this when I had just put him back in. All my other animals either sit there until I'm closing the door or head off into the tank.

txskunk · #7 06-08-2011, 12:40 PM

I had a CB girl and he dad was a rescue he was a beast but he too hated humans, but my girl rupert was awesome... you really get to spend time with them when you are responsible and buy quality captive bred animals... im sure there are pics on here some where but she would lay on her back in my hand just hanging out.......