Common Ground News

Get Updates

Can you tame a Tokay gecko?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on March 06, 2026

Can you tame a Tokay gecko?

Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) are beautiful, large lizards from Southeast Asia that can thrive as pets despite their aggressive dispositions. Though most tokay geckos offered for sale are wild-caught, these imported animals can thrive and some eventually become tame with proper husbandry and veterinary attention.

Keeping this in consideration, can you handle a Tokay gecko?

Tokay geckos do bite and have powerful jaws. Once tame, this species is reluctant to bite, and it can be handled much like a leopard gecko. A friendly captive tokay gecko is both an accomplishment and proof of your geckokeeping skills.

Furthermore, how do you tame a gecko? Care requirements will vary some from species to species but for the most part, geckos need to be kept in enclosures that have branches available for climbing, a water bowl, a hiding place, and secure lids. Geckos can escape through small holes so an aquarium with a tight fitting lid is recommended for housing geckos.

Considering this, can you tame a wild gecko?

Though most tokay geckos offered for sale are wild-caught, these imported animals can thrive and some eventually become tame with proper husbandry and veterinary attention. Captive-bred animals are rarely available but are much easier to tame than their wild-caught counterparts.

Are Tokay Geckos dangerous?

Tokay Gecko is often erroneously believed to be venomous. But, in truth its bite is not poisonous, even though it is quite painful. However, researches show them to carry various bacteria that can cause serious health problems.

Do Tokay Geckos play dead?

Over the weekend, my husband & I found out that our Tokay Geckos can do tricks! They can play dead! hahaha They just freeze when you put them on their backs!

How do you kill a gecko?

Spray a good residual insecticide such as Cyper WP around the outside of your home to help cut down on the number of insects the geckos are eating. If geckos cannot find enough food they will either move on or starve.

How long do Tokay Geckos live?

about 10 years old

How often should I feed my Tokay gecko?

every two to three days

How long can Tokay Geckos go without food?

2 weeks

Do Tokay Geckos need UVB?

Tokay geckos will be in partial shade but naturally, UVB is still available throughout most of the day. UVB lighting used to be considered an optional extra but we now know a lot more about the species and their natural habitat and understand that it should always be provided.

Do Tokay Geckos lose their tails?

Like their lizard cousins, Tokay geckos have a very interesting defense mechanism when caught in the claws of a much superior predator – they drop their tails when extremely threatened or if their tail is seized. The tail will in fact wiggles on the ground.

Do Tokay Geckos sleep?

Tokay geckos will spend the daylight hours resting in a vertical head down position, and will often sleep in the same place day after day. However, tokays are highly active after the lights go out.

Do geckos bite?

These small geckos are non-venomous and not harmful to humans. Most medium-sized to large geckos are docile, but may bite if distressed, which can pierce skin. The animal is very adaptable and may prey on insects and spiders, displacing other gecko species which are less robust or behaviourally aggressive.

Do geckos eat cockroaches?

Geckos are reptiles and they eat live insects happily. They are predators to many insects including cockroaches. Geckos are natural predators and they like to chase and kill the prey. Cockroaches are easy prey for the gecko as long as they don't hide in places where geckos can't reach.

Do geckos eat ants?

Geckos will eat just about any insect as long as it is alive and they can catch it. Geckos eat mosquitoes, flies, beetles, dragonflies, cicadas, ants, wasps, butterflies and crickets.

Do Geckos eat fruit?

Leopard Geckos are insectivores and cannot eat fruit or vegetables. A Leopard Gecko's body can only digest meat, such as insects. The reason they can't eat fruit or vegetables is because their bodies aren't designed to manage or digest fruit and vegetables.

How long can a gecko live in your house?

15-20 years

How do I keep my gecko alive?

Easy to care for, all you need is a vivarium which can be a ten gallon or larger fish tank, clean substrate [store bought] a secure cover for the tank, a heat source [such as an incandescent light bulb with reflector], some branches for your gecko to climb on, a rock for him/her to bask on, and some plants to collect

What do geckos eat in captivity?

While in captivity, most geckos should be fed size-appropriate crickets, mealworms and superworms. Geckos can occasionally be fed waxworms as treats which can be good for them since they are high in fat.

Do leopard gecko bites hurt?

No, generally the bites of a Leopard Gecko don't hurt. While the bites of baby Leopard Geckos don't hurt at all, the bites of adult Leopard Geckos are nothing to be worried about as they don't have big teeth.

Can Geckos swim?

The Asian house gecko can move across water at great speed by using a half-running, half-swimming motion. Field researchers in Singapore discovered that geckos, too, can run across water when they're scared, as you can see in this rare footage. Amazingly, they go just as fast on the water as they do on land.

Do geckos recognize their owners?

Their brains are just too small and primitive to really "feel" anything like we do. They can certainly recognize their owners by scent and learn to be more comfortable around them.

Do geckos like being pet?

Do geckos like to be touched once they get used to you? Yes, they do. They are the few types of reptiles who like to be handled, but make sure to give it time before you can handle it, as it may be stressed out. If your middle schooler is a calm and patient person, leopard geckos will be a good first pet.

Why did my gecko bite me?

Do leopard geckos bite? Yes, leopard geckos can bite, and babies are more likely to bite you than adults. Some of the reasons for biting include aggressiveness, mistaking your hand for food and being scared or annoyed.

How long does it take to tame a gecko?

3-6 weeks

How do you know if your gecko likes you?

There are several signs to look at to see if your leopard gecko is happy. You might notice your leopard gecko actively exploring the tank or hunting their prey, flicking their tongue, or basking in the heat flat on the ground. These are all signs your leopard gecko is happy.

Do geckos have teeth?

Typical geckos have close to 100 exposed teeth at birth and continuously replace them every few months (3). Leopard geckos have tooth 'families' that form rows in the lizard's mouth. The replacement teeth are formed in the successional lamina and develop lingual (towards the tongue) compared to the erupted teeth.

Do geckos need heat lamps?

Leopard geckos use their environment to regulate their body temperature. So, it's important to provide a 'thermogradient' - with a heat lamp at one end and a cooler area at the other. Use thermostats to regulate the temperatures. Leopard geckos also need ultraviolet light and a dry environment.

What does it mean when a leopard gecko licks you?

Licking and flicking of the tongue

You may observe leopard geckos like to lick everything, including you. This is due to the presence of a “Jacobson's Organ” (also referred to as a “vomeronasal organ”) located in the roof of its mouth, similar to snakes. This allows the gecko to essentially “smell” with its tongue.

Can geckos hear you?

Crested geckos don't have externals ears but are capable of hearing. They're also sensitive to sudden and loud sounds. However, crested geckos won't have any problem with everyday and normal sounds. A stressed crested gecko can have health issues and even lose its tail.

How do I get rid of Tokay gecko?

Household Solutions

If you have eggshells, you can place them around your home to scare off geckos.
If you have mothballs, you can place them around to repel geckos.
If you have coffee and tobacco, you can make a gecko poison.
If you have garlic cloves, you can use them to repel geckos with the odor.

What is the most aggressive gecko?

Tokay geckos

Why are Tokay Geckos so mean?

Tokay geckos are nocturnal, meaning they're most active at night. During the day your gecko will sleep in a head-down position. In the wild, these geckos are known to be highly territorial. Males especially will attack any animals, including other tokay geckos, that they perceive as a threat.

Are Wall geckos evil?

Geckos are among the most harmless reptiles. There are beliefs for example that geckos can predict a bad event, that touching the gecko's bumpy skin will make yours like it or even transmit leprosy, that geckos intentionally poison food or spit in food and poison it, etc.

What happens if a gecko bites you?

If the gecko's bite broke the skin, the wound should immediately be washed thoroughly with copious amounts of warm water and antibacterial soap. The wound can then be covered with antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Large geckos can inflict a deep, painful wound due to their size.

Related Documentation

Is it safe to eat sweets during pregnancy?

What is Tinymce used for?

What are the 2 types of outsourcing?

Can you tame a Tokay gecko?