[aquamentus_11]

I'm going to be heading back to Michigan for 2 weeks starting Dec 16. I'll need to bring my tokay with me and was hoping you guys might have some tips on the best/least stressful way of going about driving for 8h with him. Keeping the car warm is obvious.

[Tokayy]

I wouldn't recommend this. They are not dogs and shouldn't be taken on trips. There was another person talking about doing this with their leopard gecko.

Why must you take your tokay with you? You are only gone for two weeks. No one can pop over once during the time you are gone to drop a few crickets in the cage an a misting?

[aquamentus_11]

why would you not recommend it?

[Ozymandias]

mostly stress, thay will probably be stressed out for most of the time you in a MI and thay will be stressed on the trip back.

[Riverside Reptiles]

Nate, it's just one more stressor on an animal that you're still working on acclimating to his current environment. The last thing that I would do is up and move him not once, but twice more in a two week period of time. He would likely actually benefit from you being away and having some alone time to settle in. Put the mister, lights, etc on inexpensive timers...feed him well before you leave, and perhaps find someone you trust to throw some food in for him once or twice while you're gone and he should do just fine.

[aquamentus_11]

ok great. i obviously didn't like the idea of moving him like that, but it looked like i had no other option. hopefully by then he'll be in a bit better shape and won't need to be fed as intensively.

[Tokayy]

Reptiles do not need the attention that many think they do. Reptiles are fine to be left on their own for a while, if anything ,it will be beneficial for your Tokay so that it gets accustomed to its new habitat.

Reptiles need the owner for really one thing. To play god. Without it, they wouldnt survive. Essentially reptiles do not look for companionship. All they are looking from you the owner is to provide food, the proper lighting and heating as well as the proper day and night cycle. Other then that, we humans are useless to them. They will eat and hunt on their own if they need to.

Leaving your Tokay alone for a few weeks will not be a problem. If anything it will reduce stress as oppose to you taking him on your travels. Travelling is too much for a gecko to handle and every time you change them from environment to environment it causes stress and then time must be given to the reptile so they can get accustomed to their new location.

Don't think too much into this... Just make sure when you leave on your travels that your mister is working and your lighting cycles are appropriate. One large feeding before you leave, one large feeding when you get back, and perhaps a feeding by a friend once or twice when you are away will suffice. If anything, you'll have a healthier looking Tokay, and better "behaviour" for leaving her alone for a while.

[aquamentus_11]

i will be moving in the early summer though, so he will be in the car eventually. any tips for this eventuality?

[Tokayy]

You say early summer so that will be a lot warmer then winter temperatures or the ones we are experiencing now. Your gecko will not be as cold, but since you are moving it is a must to take it with you. This is okay, it'll cause some stress, but you need to do it you are moving. Its more of a need then taking your Tokay on a trip.

The most important question is how long is your Tokay going to be in the car for? How long is this move you are going to incur?

Depending on how long the travel time is, you may want to place your terrarium, if it isnt too big inside your vehicle with a blanket or something covering the windows of the cage. This will ensure that the gecko doesnt get disoriented throughout the travels, and you really do not want the gecko gazing out the window as the car is moving, it'll just disorient the thing.

[aquamentus_11]

it's an approx. 5h drive. i had thought of actually taking him out of the tank and putting him in a smaller carrying container so he would be more secure and the risk of being jostled would be reduced.