Tokay Aggresion!!

[BMXer1654]

So, i got a baby tokay about a year ago, and tamed him down. He is very calm. A few weeks ago i decided to get him a mate. So i got him a female tokay that is about a year older than him, she is very aggresive. Last night he was making his mating call. and when i went to check on him this morning, my male had some bite marks on his back and head. Im guessing that The female is still getting used to her new home and when he was going near her, it was startling her and she was biting. Right now i have them separated, but i need some help, and suggestions...

I might mention that the female is possibly gravid from the previous owner.

 

[Ophidiophile]

Tokays are territorial. When I want to put a new pair together, I keep them in separate cages side by side for a time ("a time" for my last pairing being about 6 months). When I finally put them together I never put one Tokay in the other's cage - that would be encroachment on an established territory. Instead I put them both in a new cage and allow them to re-establish territories on neutral ground. Encroachment on established unfamiliar territory seems like what your female is experiencing and she is simply being defensive (maybe more than aggressive). If she is gravid from another male that introduces a whole separate level of defensiveness since Tokays will predate on other Tokays eggs. Overall, you've done the right thing by separating them. I'd keep them and their cages separated until you know whether the female is going to lay. If she doesn't, say after a couple of months, I'd then put the cages next to each other and start getting a larger, neutral cage with lots of hides ready.

 

[BMXer1654]

Thanks. I have a cage divider at the moment and she isn't being so defensive anymore when she sees him. But ill give it some time.