Something is wrong with my Tokay... maybe?

[AneesasMuse]

Okay, my friends have been holding onto my gecko for almost a week... our schedules weren't working for each other... but I finally was able to pick up my little fella today.
My friend brought out the container they had been housing him in and she carefully opened up the top. I stepped back just a bit, getting ready for a nasty display and a bitey little beast to come rushing out at me. She reached in and picked him up and sat him in her hand. He didn't even bark. I looked at her very puzzled, and asked if she had him warm enough? Had he been eating? Was he, in fact, okay? I reached over and picked him up. I held him up closer, so I could get a good look at his face. I flipped him over and looked at his belly. Turned him back right side up and sat him on my other hand. I stroked his head and his back, all the way down his tail. I squeezed his little belly and tugged gently on his skin. Nothing. No vicious response.

I'm telling you, this darn gecko did not so much as flinch! It just sat there, with its "head too big for its body" baby face and looked at me.

I have a freak Tokay, don't I? There's something wrong with him, hunh?

The little guy has been very well housed, eats great and now he has his own 20gR turned vertically with live plants and cork and drift, etc. He has a nice basking area and the humidity is up. I'll put some crickets in tomorrow night, maybe... wanna give him time to settle in, even though he acts like he's perfectly "chill".

I just don't know what to make of this. I was expecting to have to work with him to even get a remotely tame Tokay. Maybe he's been drugged?

 

[edventurous77]

when you pulled on him an squeezed him what kind of reaction did he have. even the tamest of lizards (blueys,beardeds) will squirm if you squeeze them, there may be something wrong with your gecko:?

 

[Wolfy72]

In my experience, it sounds to me like you have a perfectly healthy little tokay, that is just takin it's time adjusting. I've found that each animal is different in the amount of time it will take in adapting to it's new envirinment, some take to things right away , others take days, weeks, and even months, to fully adapt. The best advice I can give at this point is to do exactly what you're doin, be patient, keep it warm and fed, but remember, you have a Tokay Gecko...lol... "dont let your guard down"...it'll explode on ya sooner or later.

 

[AneesasMuse]

LOL... I think my little fella just needs some time, like you say Wolfy72 He was barking at me tonight when I put his crickets in his viv. When I reached for him, he scrambled away (I was wearing a leather work glove ). I think the little one will be just fine, afterall. Ha!

 

[mindlessvw]

just to be on the safe side i always recommend a fecal. You never know what those little guys can have...

 

[AneesasMuse]

Thanks, mindlessvw. I got this guy CB, so I'm hoping he is free of any real serious parasitic infestations; but to be on the safe side, I will snag the first poo I see and have a flotation done on it. Thanks for reminding me.

He is quite grumpy with my intrusions today, so I think he's settling in.

 

[Wolfy72]

And again i say..... "Gotta love the don't screw with me attitude of these lil fella's"...

 

[heytrid]

i got one for xmas from my roomates.........

i am SO scared of him it isnt even funny.....the way he just watches me everywher ei go, if i go near his home he gets pissy and opens his mouth and barks at me.

 

[Wolfy72]

Welcome to the world of the "Barking Gecko" or "The Pit Bull" of geckos, or as my little boy calls them "The Biting Gecko's"....although fiery feisty little beast, they are so very cool and awesome to watch interact with each other, feeding, breeding, just everyday general fun, I have 3 tanks full of them here and I never get bored with them, I even handle a few of them as well, just takes time to get used to I guess.

 

[AneesasMuse]

I'm still chuckling at my little Tokay's barking this morning He's feeling better about HIS home, I guess. I haven't seen him move much in the few days I've been letting him settle down... he's probably creeping around after lights out and just rests in the same place... but just to be sure, I went in for an inspection today. Mr. Habibi (Mr. Love, translated) was not happy about this in the least. He tried to just hide better, but I touched him, so he was compelled to bark a warning at me... I love baby barks! I didn't give up, nor did he... he barked, I touched. Finally, I got him out and he turned around and bit the snot outta me I said, "hey!!" and he was like, "oh, that wasn't hard enough? hunh?" CHOMP!!

The cute thing, and I guess the more fortunate thing, is that baby Tokays will let go pretty quick.... only to bite again and again.

I'm satisfied that he's not dehydrated or sickly in any way, so I'll let him be for a while longer. I just had to check on him. I'm really happy that he's proving his "true tokay'ness" now... I was worried.