Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I recently aquired 2 tokay geckos. They are male and female and had 2 previous owners before me who were unsuccessful at breeding them. The male is about 9 or 10 inches and the female is 7 or 8 inches but much more petit than the male. I was wondering if it was signs of domination etc... because my male usually remains in plain view at any given time but my female tends to hide in the same spot under logs and leaves. However when the male decides to hide he usually does it with her in the same spot and she doesn't move or run away and they don't fight or chase eachother around at all. Then at night they are both out of hiding and in plain view.
I do want to mate them. Would it be a better idea to raise the female alone in a separate tank and then introduce them? or is this behaviour noted above NOT domination over her and it is fine to leave her in. They do both eat when fed.

At that lenght if you dont know their age I would suspect that at least the male is not mature enough yet. Mine was with 2 females for a very long time before he started mating, he was well over 9 months old and over 10 inches. just a possibility Ive heard it can take them up to a year old or more.
-----
My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

They are both 2 years old. Maybe a couple months more than that.
Male has the waxy substance coming from his formal pores etc...
Both are sexually mature.

I never saw mine mate for a long time and when I did I captured it with pics. I did notice some unusual signs, mostly the substrate looking torn up like some thrashing going on. I only new for sure when One of my females began getting very fat very fast, much like my leo's. It wasnt until much later I caught them in the act and there was no roughness to it at all. It was prob 6 months later before my other female became gravid. Could be just a matter of time, I take it your positive one is male.
-----
My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

sorry forgot this, id leave them alone they sound fine. all my adults cuddle together and is not unusual to see them in diff places also. all my hatchlings cuddle together no matter what their age diff is. since theve had 2 owners and now you theyve been moved alot. give them time to get used to their new home and get comfortable. they sound small for 2 year olds but could be I guess.
-----
My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

Ok, I was typing a reply when you sent the rest of your post.

Ummm, ok the female is 9 inches (I measured) the male is on his 2nd tail.
By the looks of it I'd say he dropped it year or so ago.
So that 10 inch male could actually have a true length of 12 inches with his original tail intact.

how big a tank you have them in and are you keeping humidity above 60%. I use a bulb strong enough to provide at least 85 bout 2/3 of the way down which is a 100 watt on my 120 gal and a 60 watt on my hatchlings 29T. I leave the red bulbs on 24/7 and they actually spend time almost everynight in the 90 and higher temp range.
-----
My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

They came with a 40 gallon long aquarium. Not really my preference but It'll do until I grab a larger one (I'd prefer tall). I've only had them about a week. I'm not in any hurry for breeding. I've got patience lol

The humidity is kept above 60% via a waterfall, multiple mistings, and small water pools throughout the tank.

Temp is about 30-32 Celcius at it's hottest spot and 25 C at it's coolest during the day with a 5 degree drop at night for all areas except where the under-tank heater is. Temp averages 27 C about midway down from the top. The room where they are kept is 23 C constantly.

Id look into at least a 70 gal tall. I noticed a big behavior change when I put mine in a much taller tank than I used when i first got them. They may not feel comfortable in that height of a tank.
-----
My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

I would love to have a 70 gallon tall.
Thing is, there aren't any stores in this province that sells tall tanks! I'd have to get it online. It'll cost me a fortune by the time shipping etc... is paid for lol

I can build one though.

How often do you feed? How much do you feed? and what do you feed them?

I feed every other day and sometimes skip two days. Their regular diet is large crickets and every once in a while Ill throw in some mealies that some times they eat and some times they dont. Every couple weeks I give them pinkies, one each.
-----
My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

It is without a shadow of a doubt a male.

I have read that one way of telling that your tokays have bred or attempted to is the slight lacerations on the back of the female's head and neck from the male's jaws.

They may not have mated before because of a lack of heat. The previous owner only had 2 15 watt black bulbs for heat. I've since added an under-tank heater and a 2nd canopy containing 2 more 15 day bulbs.

Do you have any insight into the removing of the female and reintroducing her in a few months? I'm afraid that the male might just be tolerating the presence of the female in the tank and that she may just feel too subordinate to approach. The previous owner said that the male did mating calls but nothing ever came of it breeding-wise. I'm more concerned right now about the comfort of my female more than trying to breed.

That is very normal tokay behavior, most males and females do behave like yours.
I read from your post that they are sexually mature.
So now just give them time.
Tokays are very sensitive with respect to any environmental changes.
Introduction into a new tank almost always results in stop of any breeding activities for 1-3 monthd or even a year.
The more often they feel disturbed, the smaller the tank and the less hidings, the longer the adaption period.

Give them the time they need.

Ci@o

Ingo

Thanx a bunch!!!