If you plan on breeding Tokay geckos in the future, you really want to purchase at least one male and one female. However, there are certain things you need to know before putting them together in a tank. Male and female geckos have distinct characteristics and similarities. Knowing them all will help you raise your pet in the safest way possible.
Characteristics of a Male Tokay Gecko
Let’s start by discussing male geckos. The most distinctive feature of male geckos is their strong attachment to their territory. Like soldiers, they protect their territories with all their might, even if it means risking their lives. Tokays are considered the most dangerous of the entire house gecko family, not because they are poisonous, but because they love to bite, especially if they feel threatened. So here’s a VERY important reminder: DO NOT put two or more male geckos in one tank as it can result in a deadly fight. So be careful! It’s okay to mix one male with multiple females, but never multiple males and one female.
In terms of physical characteristics, male geckos are brighter in color than females. With Tokays, the males usually have gray skin with orange spots. This is true with all other geckos and most animals. Remember, they use their color to attract mates. So the brighter your skin tone, the more favorable it is for them. If you hear its very familiar sound saying ‘Tuc-ko’ or ‘Gec-ko’, you can expect it to come from a male gecko. They do it to get the attention of their peers or future peers.
Characteristics of a female gecko
Like most animals, female lizards are loving mothers. They will go to great lengths to protect their siblings from any possible threat, with the help of their peers, of course. Female geckos are not very territorial and because they are the “apple of the eye” of male geckos, they can be combined with many male geckos to breed. But of course you want to allocate a separate tank for your female gecko before and after mating season so she can keep a careful eye on her health. Remember, healthy siblings are the product of a healthy mother.
Unlike male geckos, female geckos have darker colors. The mere fact that they are female makes them special enough to find a mate, so they don’t really need to have attractive-looking fur. Size-wise, they are usually smaller than their male counterparts.
Other differences
There are some other important characteristics between a male and a female gecko. In the Tokay family, males have a small congestion at the base of the tail. This is due to the presence of hemipenes, the gecko’s bilobed reproductive organ. On the other hand, female geckos have noticeable femoral pores, preanal and postanal tubercles.
Knowing these things will surely help you with the whole breeding and breeding process. They may look the same at first glance, but basically they have differences that the owner should pay special attention to.