Ok so I'm new to the world of Tokay Geckos. On Feb 3rd I got a Female/Male pair. The terrarium I bought for them showed up broken so I currently have them in a 20gal untill the new one shows up this week. When they got here they were pretty stressed out after traveling 12 hours in a box. The female was pretty dark in color but they have calmed down and shes is light blue like the male now. I havent been able to get them to eat and was wondering if I could get some help with that. I put in a bowl with mealworms and waxworms in last night and the night before. Last night I had a webcam on their tank to see if they ate and to see what they do at night. Neither one ate. My male spent the night on top of the hide like he does during the day only moving a few times overnight just to turn around. The female spends all day in the hide but comes out at night. I seen her take a drink off of a live plant i have in there. Another question I had was this weird thing she does. Yesterday I kept hearing this noise coming from her hide but didnt see what it was. Last night I heard it again a few times so I layed back and watched. She started wiggling really fast and the noise was her tail whacking the glass. Should I be worried about this? Any info would help thanks guys
New Tokay Help
- Thread starter Evozakira
- Start date
Riverside Reptiles
Administrator (HMFIC)
The wiggling her tail is breeding behavior or hunting behavior. If you have them in the same enclsure, it was likely related to breeding. As for feeding (or lack of), this is a subject that is talked bout often. You should read through the old posts and you will find tons of great advice on that issue. Bottom line is, being moved is stressful. They will need time to acclimate. In the mean time, they may not eat well.
Ok so i know why the one I think is female is not eating because shes in shed but the male Im not sure why hes isnt. They have had a small bowl with mealies and waxworms in there the past 3 nights without eating even one of them. I just added a glass with some crickets to see if that might get them going. Im starting to get worried the longer this goes on because they are skinny as it is already. Any ideas would be great. Also the wiggling thing she does is her trying to rub off the shed i think.
EDIT: I have read through all the posts and tried everything.
EDIT: I have read through all the posts and tried everything.
billewicz
New member
Hello,
So, yes, your pair will need some time to settle down. And because they are together, they have the extra added distraction regarding sex. It is mating season, after all.
Most wild caught imports will not touch worms of any kind. Crickets is a better food delivery system. Dust them with a good calcium/D3 powder and turn them loose just before dark into the enclosure. Wild Tokay chase moving targets, not stationary food in a cup.
When I bring imports in, I take a stool sample to the vet for lab work. Then they are treated for the typical parasite load plus anything that showed up in the fecal exam.
Misting, heat and multiple vertical places to hide for both of them is essential.
If you get eggs before March 1st, remove whatever they were glued to and incubate outside of the enclosure since they will not be his doing. Eggs after the first week in march can stay and the hatchlings can stay with the pair as well if you wish.
On this note, if she keeps cranking out a pair of eggs each month, separate the male after the third set or she will exhaust herself in nonstop egg production and fester.
Back to your original issue, WC imports typically take up to 2 months to settle in. Also, watch to see if the male is hogging all the food. Worst case, you'll need to separate them for a month or two or get them into a bigger enclosure and back-to-back feedings after the male is full.
I hope this helps, good luck.
Michael
So, yes, your pair will need some time to settle down. And because they are together, they have the extra added distraction regarding sex. It is mating season, after all.
Most wild caught imports will not touch worms of any kind. Crickets is a better food delivery system. Dust them with a good calcium/D3 powder and turn them loose just before dark into the enclosure. Wild Tokay chase moving targets, not stationary food in a cup.
When I bring imports in, I take a stool sample to the vet for lab work. Then they are treated for the typical parasite load plus anything that showed up in the fecal exam.
Misting, heat and multiple vertical places to hide for both of them is essential.
If you get eggs before March 1st, remove whatever they were glued to and incubate outside of the enclosure since they will not be his doing. Eggs after the first week in march can stay and the hatchlings can stay with the pair as well if you wish.
On this note, if she keeps cranking out a pair of eggs each month, separate the male after the third set or she will exhaust herself in nonstop egg production and fester.
Back to your original issue, WC imports typically take up to 2 months to settle in. Also, watch to see if the male is hogging all the food. Worst case, you'll need to separate them for a month or two or get them into a bigger enclosure and back-to-back feedings after the male is full.
I hope this helps, good luck.
Michael
Thank you for the reply Ive been so very worried about them. A nice big terrarium will be here if about 4 to 5 days. They are in this temp set up because the one i had ordered showed up to the house broke so i have to wait for the replacement. I plan on doing the fecal samples as soon as they poop even though the guy I bought them from said he had treated them when they came in. I will keep a eye out like you said about the eggs coming before march and also about putting them apart if shes making to many. Tonight I will remove the worms and put in some dusted crickets and hope somewhere in the night they eat them. I added some more hiding leaves today also. The shedding female was inside the potho plant last night drinking off it so that made me happy to see. ! more question if I may. The one that I believe is the male started licking the females face last night and after was licking under the base of his tail. Was this some form of mating acting out or just random?
billewicz
New member
I'm sorry but she is not doing well.
At this point she requires a lot of attention fast. I'm assuming you can reach in and pick her up without much fuss. If she's still spunky, that's a good sign.
I'd soak her in a warm towel, (same temp as your hands), to loosen the shed especially around the toes. Do not force any shed to come off, especially at the toes. If you have liquid vitamin E or vitamin gel caps or shark/fish liver oil, I'd dilute some in warm water and rub that on her skin as well to help with the remaining shed.
As soon as possible, I'd give her 2 drops of Fluker's liquid vitamin or any liquid vitamin for reptiles that you can find fast. Give her a few drops of bottled water as well, at the same time.
Usually when you hold your Tokay they will hold their mouth open for you. This makes getting drops in easy. Just remember that they hold their throat closed so without getting bit, stroke under her throat to close her mouth and get her to swallow.
Now, if she has swallowed the water and vites, then drop a fat cricket in her mouth and set her down in a quiet place for the night.
If she makes it through the night, then repeat the bath and vitamin E dip along with as much water as she will drink and end with a cricket.
The next day add the oral liquid vitamin to the water and cricket. Follow the directions for nursing a sick animal dosage on the bottle. It will say you can do this 4 times in a week typically. So, every other day.
Hopefully she will slowly recover in the next week and start looking to bite you or run away, (i.e., getting better).
I wish good luck and all the best,
Michael
At this point she requires a lot of attention fast. I'm assuming you can reach in and pick her up without much fuss. If she's still spunky, that's a good sign.
I'd soak her in a warm towel, (same temp as your hands), to loosen the shed especially around the toes. Do not force any shed to come off, especially at the toes. If you have liquid vitamin E or vitamin gel caps or shark/fish liver oil, I'd dilute some in warm water and rub that on her skin as well to help with the remaining shed.
As soon as possible, I'd give her 2 drops of Fluker's liquid vitamin or any liquid vitamin for reptiles that you can find fast. Give her a few drops of bottled water as well, at the same time.
Usually when you hold your Tokay they will hold their mouth open for you. This makes getting drops in easy. Just remember that they hold their throat closed so without getting bit, stroke under her throat to close her mouth and get her to swallow.
Now, if she has swallowed the water and vites, then drop a fat cricket in her mouth and set her down in a quiet place for the night.
If she makes it through the night, then repeat the bath and vitamin E dip along with as much water as she will drink and end with a cricket.
The next day add the oral liquid vitamin to the water and cricket. Follow the directions for nursing a sick animal dosage on the bottle. It will say you can do this 4 times in a week typically. So, every other day.
Hopefully she will slowly recover in the next week and start looking to bite you or run away, (i.e., getting better).
I wish good luck and all the best,
Michael
Shes biting now and so is he. Her fiestiness hasnt gone anywhere. As for all that stuff i have none of it and prolly cant afford it right now. I also dont have anything to put her alone with and cant move her from my room cause she would freeze and have a lot of work going on it rest of house 
just screwed i guess
just screwed i guess
billewicz
New member
OK, she's fiesty, then we're better than that picture suggests. I would keep her misted a couple of times a day at the vary least. Does she have anything to sit on vertically besides the glass? Cork bark, slate, a pvc tube? Tokay do not usually sit on the bottom of the enclosure unless they have no other vertical hides or, they don't feel very good.
Do you have a national chain pet store near you? Also, the next time you are in Home Depot or Loews, pick up a pair of machanic's or utility gloves. They are not leather, but rather a thin synthetic material. They make it easier to handle new Tokay, and if they latch on, you can slip the glove off and leave them both in the enclosure.
Do you have a national chain pet store near you? Also, the next time you are in Home Depot or Loews, pick up a pair of machanic's or utility gloves. They are not leather, but rather a thin synthetic material. They make it easier to handle new Tokay, and if they latch on, you can slip the glove off and leave them both in the enclosure.
Petsmart and petco, neither carry liquid stuff. I got liquid Electrolyte/ Vitamin D3 at the local store if that helps? Its made by Exo Terra. Do you still want me to try and soak and feed her? They got a log stick thing which she was on last night, also a hanging plant on the glass and i put in a papertowel tube to climb.
billewicz
New member
You could try the drops while she is in the enclosure if you want. New Tokay will fly around a few times and then pose with their mouth gaping open in defense. You can try the drops then. If you are too frustrated at this point then I'd say mist her and leave her be for now.
I'd still get the gloves soon so you can work with them without getting bit.
I can be reached directly at 703-354-4440 if you wish.
Michael
I'd still get the gloves soon so you can work with them without getting bit.
I can be reached directly at 703-354-4440 if you wish.
Michael
Ok so shes barely moving when i picked her up she didnt do anything while i soaked her. She tried to move a little after and opened her mouth just enough for water but thats it. She basicly looks like shes about to go like shes just givin up. She did poo on my glove what do i do with it so i can maybe take it in tomorrow? I dont know if she will survive the night.
when i picked her up she didnt do anything while i soaked her. She tried to move a little after and opened her mouth just enough for water but thats it. She basicly looks like shes about to go like shes just givin up. She did poo on my glove what do i do with it so i can maybe take it in tomorrow? I dont know if she will survive the night.
billewicz
New member
It is actually possible to bring them back from the brink. We'll see how she is in the morning. We'll keep going until she gets better or she quits. Have a cricket ready next time you give her water & Electrolytes. She should open up when she senses a cricket at her nose.
Good luck,
Michael
Good luck,
Michael