Please help my new Tokay!

My Lil' Geckos

New member
zl98c6.jpg

Here's a pic of him^

I just got a new Tokay and I have been hand feeding him. He ate 3 crickets and a mealworm yesterday, and only 1 cricket today. He will not eat anymore when I offered him mealworms and crickets, and I have even tried to give him waxworms. He appears healthy, just skinny, and pooped yesterday and it looked fine. I need some tips on getting him to eat, handfed, and on his own, since he refuses to chase crickets, just sits on his tree. The breeder did not give us any info on him at all. He is very docile, never tried to bite or bark. He hissed at my sister twice, but that's it. I also have 2 leopard geckos who are fine. I have taken them to the vet and they have been given a clean bill of health. If it is necessary, I will take my Tokay to the vet as well, but for now, I just need to get him eating! Thanks!
 

Tokayy

New member
My tokay did the same. Give him a few days and then try putting some crickets inside the cage. They won't starve. When they are hungry they will eat. Remember they are nocturnal. They only eat at night. I feed mine every 2 days at around 8 when her light is off. She eats the crickets in a matte of minutes.
 

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
There have been many recent posts of people with similar issues. I suggest reading through some of the older posts to get some ideas as there are a plethora of reasons why your gecko may not be eating.
 

daggekko

New member
I agree. Take a deep breath and relax. The typically eat at night for a while but once they get used to their surroundings they'll eat during the day(mine does anyhow). Just make sure you don't have tons of extra feeders running around in the enclosure incase yours really isn't eating.
 

Tokayy

New member
I agree. Take a deep breath and relax. The typically eat at night for a while but once they get used to their surroundings they'll eat during the day(mine does anyhow). Just make sure you don't have tons of extra feeders running around in the enclosure incase yours really isn't eating.

You should not leave crickets in the cage if your gecko has eaten or does not feel like eating. Crickets to bite and can be harmful to your tokay. Also it can cause stress having crickets in the cage that are not being eaten.
 

JIGSAW818

New member
Has anyone ever considered the Meal worms / Super worms are still biting away inside the geckos stomach????? Those bad boys bite hard and the jamaican field crickets have some gnarly chompers as well.
 

Tokayy

New member
Has anyone ever considered the Meal worms / Super worms are still biting away inside the geckos stomach????? Those bad boys bite hard and the jamaican field crickets have some gnarly chompers as well.


I have tried all types of worms abd my tokay did not bother with them. Perhaps it was because they move to slow. I tried to feed superworms, wax worms, meal worms, silk worms, and even horn worms. The tokay was not interested at all. Also many wil say feeding wax worms is unhealthy and quite fatty for your gecko.
 

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
Has anyone ever considered the Meal worms / Super worms are still biting away inside the geckos stomach????? Those bad boys bite hard and the jamaican field crickets have some gnarly chompers as well.


THat's an old wives tale about super worms chewing through a geckos stomach. But it's not true. The "new" field crickets can indeed do external damage to a gecko. Most tokay stay up high in their enclosure away from where any insects could actually get hold of them though. But better safe than sorry. A few crickets aren't likely to hurt anything. But you certainly wouldn't want to load up the enclosure with like 50 of them and just leave them. If nothing else they would likely stress the gecko by annoying them more than anything.
 

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
I have tried all types of worms abd my tokay did not bother with them. Perhaps it was because they move to slow. I tried to feed superworms, wax worms, meal worms, silk worms, and even horn worms. The tokay was not interested at all. Also many wil say feeding wax worms is unhealthy and quite fatty for your gecko.

It's also been my experience that tokay don't tend to care much for worms of any type in particular. I stick to crickets and tropical roaches in general for my tokay.
 

daggekko

New member
That is one of those situations where if you are just worried you should always watch your animal eat. I've always told people that they can keep a bearded dragon on sand, but if every time it goes for a cricket it gets a mouthful of sand, DON't keep it on sand. If your gecko doesn't go through the normal chewing chomping munching motions, I'd say it is safe to stay away from all these more dangerous food items.
 

JIGSAW818

New member
THat's an old wives tale about super worms chewing through a geckos stomach. But it's not true. The "new" field crickets can indeed do external damage to a gecko. Most tokay stay up high in their enclosure away from where any insects could actually get hold of them though. But better safe than sorry. A few crickets aren't likely to hurt anything. But you certainly wouldn't want to load up the enclosure with like 50 of them and just leave them. If nothing else they would likely stress the gecko by annoying them more than anything.

I meant when they are inside of the gecko. Also Not chewing "through" but doing some form of damage. Which may leave the gecko uncomfortable leading it to not want to eat.?
 
Top