[aquamentus_11]

just got a 6mo, male tokay. (< love) he's lost and regrown his tail once prior to me bringing him home and looks thin, but is active at night and eats well.

he's recently developed several raised, hard-looking lesions on his dorsum that weren't there when i got him. they don't appear ulcerous, are the same dark grey color as the rest of his skin and there is no apparent swelling. i've done my research: keep proper humidity, temp, Ca2+ supplement all prey, fecal totally negative, etc. he doesn't seem particularly stressed and climbs all over me without biting.

the lesions have me worried. i did note the crickets biting him the first few days i had him and have since reduced the number i leave in his cage at a time (3-4). they look like scabs to me, but i've never seen a tokay scab before. does their skin pucker up around their scabs? a few days ago, i did find some white fungus growing underneath the grapevine i keep in his tank, but cleaned that out and have adjusted my hydration technique. in humans, topical fungal infections don't look like this, but i have no clue when it comes to reptiles.

any ideas?

...also, does a darker coloration (just a dark grey with the usual red and white spots) mean he's stressed or is this just a morph?

[aquamentus_11]

looks like a lot of people are reading, but not replying. i'm almost positive that the lesions are scabs, but the rest of my questions still stand.

[Riverside Reptiles]

A few pictures would go a long way in being able to give you appropriate information.

[billewicz]

Hey,

Is this one a recent import or domestically bred? And yes, good photos will help a lot.

I've had small worms in fresh imports that develop under the skin and can be easily extracted through a small incision and popped like a pimple. They never had scabs though.

If they get bigger, or increase in number, then a visit to the vet and meds are in order. The vet can hydrate him as well, if needed.

Good luck and I'm sure Ethan or myself will respond again when you post your pics and info.

[Palor]

Pics would be a big big help. I suspect your tokay could have cricket bites.

[billewicz]

If this is cricket bites, then leaving a chunk of carrot or red potato in the enclosure will distract them from munching on your Tokay.

[aquamentus_11]

Thanks guys. Yeah, they've actually just cleared up for the most part with his shed yesterday (which is a relief) so I'm thinking they were just scabs.

Another few quick questions though re: feeding. His body and head are probably about 5" long and I've been trying to supplement his diet with mealworms, but I don't think he's able to eat them. I know he tries to take them because they're never in the no-escape bowl the next morning, but I'll find them later in the substrate. Could they be too big for him? What size should I be giving? He eats well when he finds crickets, but I'm worried that they may be hiding too well. Will he be able to hunt them down even if they're hiding under the fake leaves, etc. I have in the tank?

[billewicz]

Yeah, most Tokay will not eat meal/super worms at all. By the way, they suck as a good balanced food source. A well gut-loaded and dusted cricket is best. Let your crickets fill-up on Rapeshy gut-load, or fish food, dandelion and carrots for at least 24 hours. (No white potato).

Then dust with a good calcium supplement.

I find that the Tokay can see the white dusted crickets or roaches much better than non-dusted ones. Tokay like movement to trigger a feeding response. Also, feeding at dusk is prime time for hunting and they will get used to you bringing food then.

Let us know how that works and good luck.

[aquamentus_11]

Awesome; I was also going to ask if him only eating at twilight was normal. This site is great.

[billewicz]

Yes. They are most active between dusk and dawn. But feeding seems to go much faster during the twilight hours when they can see the prey.