Artificial Rearing Methods and Technical Key Points for the Tokay Gecko

The suitable environmental temperature for the growth, development and reproduction of the tokay gecko is 28-32°C, and the relative air humidity is 65%-75%. Under such environmental conditions, the tokay gecko has a strong appetite, a large food intake, strong digestive capacity and a high metabolic rate, so it also grows and develops quickly. Under these environmental conditions, sufficient feed insects must be provided to ensure its nutritional needs. Therefore, during the growth and development period when the temperature and humidity are suitable, black light lamps must be used every evening in the tokay gecko rearing facility to trap insects. Phototactic insects fly toward the light and fall into the tokay gecko activity area for them to prey on. Production practice has proved that a 20-watt black light lamp can trap insects within a radius of 200 m. If the insect source in this place is abundant, it can trap tens of thousands of insects in one night, with a weight reaching more than 500 grams, enough to feed 400 tokay geckos.

If the insect source is insufficient or the rearing quantity is large, the number of black light lamps can be increased, or feed insects can be reared artificially. During the peak feeding period of the tokay gecko from July to September, when live insect feed is insufficient, artificially mixed feed can also be fed, and its mixing ratio is: fish meal 30%, cooked egg 10%, cornmeal 10%, peanut kernel cake powder 20%, sweet potato or pumpkin 30%. First boil the sweet potato or pumpkin and mash it into a paste, then smear the above artificially mixed and blended feed on the walls within the tokay gecko activity range, smearing once every 2-3 days. At this stage, only the artificially mixed feed is smeared, no insects are provided, and no drinking water is given. When the tokay gecko is hungry, it will begin to take a small amount of the artificial feed, and afterward it will gradually adapt to the artificial feed. The feeding time is best in the evening. If the amount of live insects cannot meet the needs of the tokay gecko, some artificially mixed feed can be provided. The feeding method is to first provide the artificially mixed feed, and when it has finished eating the mixed feed, then provide insects. When the winter temperature is below 12°C, the tokay gecko stops activity and enters a hibernation state. During hibernation it does not eat, drink or move, but its body still carries out weak metabolism, and through a winter it still consumes a large amount of nutrients. The nutrients consumed during overwintering are stored in the body before hibernation.

Before overwintering, especially during the period of suitable temperature and abundant feeding, sufficient feed must be provided so that the tokay gecko stores a large amount of nutrients in its body and has a robust physique. After the consumption of overwintering, the physique is still very good, and the mortality rate will be very low; if feeding is insufficient during the abundant feeding period before overwintering, the tokay gecko stores few nutrients in its body before overwintering, the stored nutrients are consumed during overwintering, and after overwintering the physique is weak and the resistance is very poor, so the mortality rate from disease will be high. Therefore, when the autumn temperature is suitable, sufficient feed insects must be provided to the tokay gecko, letting it eat its fill and drink enough for a long time, storing a large amount of nutrients in its body, and overwintering healthily; after overwintering, continue to provide sufficient, high-quality feed so that the nutrients in their bodies are immediately restored. In addition, after the tokay gecko emerges from hibernation, it will soon enter the reproduction period. Immediately providing sufficient, high-quality feed insects after hibernation to supplement nutrition in time is also very beneficial to the reproduction of the tokay gecko in that year. In summer, when the weather is hot, the tokay gecko is prone to losing water in its body. At this time, a supply of clean fresh water or relatively light salt water should be ensured, and some small shallow pools should also be built in the activity area, filled with clean water, for the tokay gecko to swim and drink. The water in the pools must be changed frequently to keep it clean.