Article: Tokay geckos love a lot of space. For one gecko, a 10 gallon (38 liters) tank is perfect. If you are going to have two, you need at least a 20 gallon (76 liters) tank. Make sure you have a lid for the tank. Choose a mesh one with small holes that the gecko can't get out of. You may also choose a tank that has a sliding door at the front instead of a lid. Because Tokays are so aggressive, limit each aquarium to two geckos. Never house two mature males together; they will fight to the death! If you must have two, opt for a male and a female. Substrate is a liner of material in the bottom of the tank that the gecko can burrow in. Black and white newspaper or paper towels make good substrate. Place a layer of one to two inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in the bottom of the cage. Don't use newspaper with colored ink because colored ink can include chemicals that are harmful to your gecko. Next, you should add a line of material that will help hold humidity. The cage's humidity should be between 60 to 80 percent. Regulating the humidity is important to keeping the gecko healthy. Two of the best substances to use are cypress mulch and orchid bark. Sprinkle a thin layer that just covers the surface of the substrate. Add a thin layer of long-fiber sphagnum moss over everything, similar to the layer of mulch. It will help contain the mess. Other substances, like cedar chips, can contain hazardous materials for your gecko. They may also injure your gecko. Geckos need a warm environment, so you have to add a heat source. One good way to do this is to place a heating mat made for reptile tanks under the tank. A Tokay gecko should have a tank that's between 80 to 85F (26.7 to 29.4C) (26 to 29C). Use a thermometer to regulate the temperature of the tank. The gecko can deal with nighttime temperatures that dip to the mid-70s (23 to 25C). In addition to a warm, humid tank, the gecko needs a basking spot to lie on that is hotter than the rest of the cage. Set up a heat spot with red light bulbs or a ceramic heat emitter. This area should be between 90 to 105 degrees (32 to 40C). Use a separate thermometer on this side of the cage to monitor the temperature. Don't use a light source that uses UVA heat because this can burn your gecko. Tokay geckos are nocturnal, which means they are active at night and sleep during daylight hours. You need to set up a light cycle for the tank that mimics day and night. Twelve to fourteen hours of daylight followed by a night time cycle should be good. Use a UVB-emitting fluorescent bulb to create the artificial daylight. Use a timer and set the light to 12 to 14 hours. Leaving the light on more than this can stress your gecko. Tokay geckos like to hide, especially during the day while they sleep. Any kind of hiding area will suffice, including fake caves, boxes, tunnels, logs, PVC pipes, or bamboo tubes. Put one hiding spot on the warm side of the tank where the basking spot is, and place another on the cool side. This allows your gecko to hide in a cool or warm spot. A full cage with many hiding spots behind rocks and under items will make your gecko happy. They love a cluttered cage, and spent almost all of their time hiding or sleeping (while hiding), so create as many hiding spots as you wish. Don't add anything to the cage that isn't fake, such as rocks or wood from your yard. Also make sure none of the objects have sharp edges that could cut your gecko.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Buy an aquarium with a screen lid. Place substrate in the bottom. Add a layer of cypress mulch or orchid bark on top of the substrate. Add a heat source. Create a basking spot. Create a day and night cycle. Add a hiding spot.