[ForestSounds]

My group of Tokays consists of one male and two females.
Let's call the females #1 and #2.
Both of them are in great shape, #1 is a bit smaller than #2, and #2 has the most beautiful colouring and pattern I've ever seen on a Tokay.
They get along fine; no quarrels over sleeping places or food. They share the same husband of course, and that proved to be too much this week.
Mr. Tokay mates with both of them on a regular basis (lucky bastard!) and both females have laid eggs.
However, the first set of eggs laid by #2 were eaten by #1 after some irritated snapping and yapping between the two wives.
When #1 laid three eggs the next month, #2 left the eggs alone, so I thought there was hope, that I wouldn't have to separate the two...
Last night, #2 laid two eggs, and this morning I found one of them destroyed, and #2 covered in bite marks, with one nasty bite just above her right eye where a small flap of skin is hanging loose.
So I decided to separate the two... problem is that I don't have a second tank that's big enough to permanently house a full grown Tokays (and mine are quite big). I really want the best for my animals, so the decision had to be made to give one animal to another owner where she is in good hands...
The dilemma was obvious: do I remove the biter/egg stealer or the bitten one?
I decided (and it was very hard to do this) to remove #2 (biting/stealing bitch)...
I had a couple of reasons:
1) I don't know for *sure* the other female is the one fighting - and if I remove her only to find out that #2 is being bitten by the male, the problem is even worse...
2) I have eggs by #1 - I'd rather have them hatch with their mother in the same tank than with a rival female.
3) #2 is in slightly better shape than #1, with more fat reserves in her tail - she's more able to survive a change of environment.
4) #2 is slightly more easier to handle than #1 - hopefully the next owner won't have any problems with her...

I have to admit I shed a couple of tears bringing her to her new home... she's gorgeous to look at, was in so-so-shape when I got her but grew up to be a healthy plump gecko. And boy, does she have a loud bark. Wonderful.

Anyway - I hope this decision was the right one, that the remaining couple will find some more rest, and make lots of eggs together - some of which will hopefully hatch!

It was a bit of a traumatizing day... I expect fellow Tokay keepers will understand - it was just something I wanted to share with you guys...

PS: this is the unlucky girl:

[thehotchik1000]

I understand what's going on. But and please don't take this the wrong way. It Is common knowledge that toks cannot be kept in trios. It just doesn't work for that exact reason. I'm sure it could If you had enough space for both girls to have their own territories. But it doesn't sound like you had enough space to house a trio. Anyways I'm sorry that you had to rehome your other female. She wasnt being mean or anything its nature, the female was insuring that her babies would be the ones to survive. Hopefully you have more luck with Just the pair.

[Riverside Reptiles]

You can still breed the male to both girls. Just rotate him through both tanks. Breeding trios just don't work well with tokays in general. I lost 4 pair of eggs this year before I decided to separate. It's just not worth it. Much easier to just swap the male over every now and then to the other enclosure. Less stress on everyone.

[ForestSounds]

Thanks for the reactions guys, I really appreciate that.
It's "reassuring" (for lack of a better word) to read that others have had the same experience. Common knowledge or not, I now know from my own experience that two animals seems to work best. It' also not that I made it up by myself, to keep three animals together - some other Tokay keepers from the Netherlands assured me it would be fine, and Tokay authority from Germany mr. Grossmann even advises it... Anyway, I know better now, I'm just glad I prevented anything worse from happening...
Rest me to say that I'm so glad to have found this community: there's a lot of wise people here with lots of experience, if I had known about you earlier, say around the time I placed the animals in their new home, I probably would have chosen a different route.
Ah well, that's life, not?

[thehotchik1000]

That's true. That's life. I would not ever recommend two breeding girls together. Unless there was a MASSIVE space involved. But In The end it's sooo much easier to rotate Or have separate pairs. Glad to have you part of the cb tokay community!

[ForestSounds]

Hello fellow Tokay lovers,

It's been a week after separating the two females, and I have to say, things couldn't be better.
The remaining female laid two more eggs yesterday (so now there's a total of 5 eggs, all looking well), is guarding them well, and is looking more relaxed than before.
What surprised me most is how the male has changed. He is much lighter of colour now, is also guarding the eggs, and generally is less shy towards me. But a little more defensive, which I love.
The couple seems so much more relaxed now that the menage-a-trois situation is in the past...
Just wanted to let you know.

Kind regards and thanks for all the advise,
Gerard

[Riverside Reptiles]

Gerard, glad to hear that things are working out so well! Sometimes a simple change can make a world of difference.

[PassPort]

I had a similar situation with badeni in the past. As far as I know, no Gekko can be successfully kept in groups long term, at least not once breeding starts taking place and a pair is bonded.

[holocaustto]

Originally Posted by Riverside Reptiles

You can still breed the male to both girls. Just rotate him through both tanks. Breeding trios just don't work well with tokays in general. I lost 4 pair of eggs this year before I decided to separate. It's just not worth it. Much easier to just swap the male over every now and then to the other enclosure. Less stress on everyone.

That works for me too.