Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)

Short answers

Tokay gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 110 × 110 × 150 cm for one animal or a pair (height is crucial); for a group more than 160 × 150 cm floor area and at least 180 cm height.

Tokay gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 35–40 °C locally at a small spot (some sources mention up to 45 °C), at night 22–25 °C.

Tokay gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (weak UVB).

Tokay gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–20 years (some over 25).

Tokay gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

22–25 °C

Basking spot

35–40 °C locally at a small spot (some sources mention up to 45 °C)

Humidity

60–75 % during the day, 80–90 % at night

UVB

Recommended (weak UVB)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 110 × 110 × 150 cm for one animal or a pair (height is crucial); for a group more than 160 × 150 cm floor area and at least 180 cm height

Substrate

Forest floor or coco, plenty of cork tubes, climbing branches, dense planting

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, locusts, roaches); large animals also take nestlings

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

up to ~35 cm total length (SVL ~18 cm)

Life expectancy

10–20 years (some over 25)

Origin

South and South-East Asia (rain and monsoon forest, also on buildings)

Protection status

CITES App. II (since 2019)

Brumation

None (possibly a slightly cooler, drier spell)

Cohabitation

Keeping it singly is the least stressful option; tokays do not need company. A pair (1.1) is possible in a sufficiently large terrarium and is common in captivity, but: fights can occur within a pair as well, so you must be able to separate them immediately. Males are strictly territorial and are never kept together; they fight over territory and basking spots until one is injured or permanently sits in a corner. Some keepers keep two females together, but: this can also end in fights, so only with separate basking and hiding spots for each animal.

Notes

Very defensive and quick to bite (a powerful bite) – not an animal for handling; loud calls. Robust in care, but CITES II-listed since 2019 (documentation required).

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Chinese gecko (Gekko chinensis) – Intermediate
• Rock gecko (Gekko petricolus) – Intermediate
• Golden gecko (Gekko badenii) – Beginner
• Grossmann's gecko (Gekko grossmanni) – Intermediate
• Horsfield's gecko (Gekko horsfieldii) – Intermediate
• Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus) – Intermediate
• Kuhl's flying gecko (Gekko kuhli) – Intermediate
• Spotted house gecko (Gekko monarchus) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 110 × 110 × 150 cm for one animal or a pair (height is crucial); for a group more than 160 × 150 cm floor area and at least 180 cm height), substrate (Forest floor or coco, plenty of cork tubes, climbing branches, dense planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.