Paradox 013 Tokay Gecko

Common Name: Tokay Gecko
Scientific Name: Gekko gecko
Source: CB
Adult Size: 25–35cm (10–14"), with males typically larger than females
Native Range: South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines; also introduced to parts of the Caribbean and Florida

Enclosure: A minimum 60×60×90cm Viperia PVC vivarium for a single adult — arboreal (tree-dwelling) by nature, so height is essential. Furnish with sturdy cork bark tubes, climbing branches, and dense artificial or live foliage to provide cover and vertical pathways. A secure, well-ventilated enclosure is a must, as Tokays are powerful and persistent escape artists.
Heating: Aim for a warm side/basking zone of around 30–32°C, an ambient temperature of 26–28°C throughout the day, and a gentle night-time drop to 22–24°C.
Humidity: 60–80% relative humidity. Achieve this through daily or twice-daily misting of the enclosure walls and décor, which also encourages drinking behaviour. Good ventilation is equally important to prevent stagnant, damp conditions.
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask within 20–30cm of the lamp. Though nocturnal (active at night), Tokays benefit from low-level UVB exposure to support calcium metabolism and overall health.
Diet: Carnivorous (meat-eating) and enthusiastic feeders. Offer a varied diet of live insects such as crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and waxworms. Larger adults will also take the occasional pinky mouse as a treat. Feed juveniles daily and adults every 2–3 days, dusting prey with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement at most feeds and a multivitamin supplement once a week.

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Tokay Gecko is one of the largest gecko species in the world and one of the most instantly recognisable — a powerfully built, vividly coloured lizard native to the tropical forests and rocky outcrops of South and Southeast Asia. The Red Stripe 144 is a selectively bred morph (colour variant) that showcases striking red and orange patterning, a dramatic departure from the classic wild-type blue-grey base with orange spots. Few geckos match the sheer visual impact of a well-marked Tokay in a naturalistic vivarium display.

Tokays have a well-earned reputation for bold, feisty temperaments — they are not a beginner's first lizard. They are best regarded as a display animal rather than a hands-on pet, and they suit a confident, experienced keeper who appreciates an animal with real personality and presence. Captive-bred individuals like the Red Stripe 144 tend to be somewhat more settled than wild-caught specimens, but patience and respect for the animal's boundaries will always be the key to a rewarding relationship with this species.