Hi I'm new to the site and to geckos.

The animal I have is a rescue from the animal shelter. They were not set up to care for one so I offered to take it. I normally have snakes, so lizards are new for me.

The animal was a normal blue when it came home (December), but for the past 1-2 weeks it has started turning a dark grey color. It is eating just fine and it shed last Thursday. The tank temp is about 77-80 degrees and there is a lamp on during the day.

It is eating fine (crickets and mealworms, haven't gotten it to eat the "gecko food" flies mixed with peach babyfood yet tho). Been coating the crickets with calcium, just read that I may only need to do that 1-2x a week??

I changed the substrate from some weird material (the recycled material from newspapers I think?- I've seen it in the pet stores) to the coconut fibers. I put the ice cubes on the top to melt and try to keep the substrate moist.

I think I've done everything I've been able to read about caring for the animal online (PLEASE let me know if I've missed anything!). The color thing is begining to worry me. I asked a vet I know last week and his suggestions (without seeing the animal) was shedding or temperature. The animal shed and the temperature seems fine...but now it is getting even darker.

If you have experienced this or have suggestions on caring for the Tokay, please help. Thank you!

It could be stress, how big is his cage? Does he have a lot of place to hide?

__________________

Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Yes, the tank is large (20 tall - if I'm correct) and s/he does have a hide log and fake vegetation. S/he used to use the hide log and vegetation when I had just newspaper down before I got the coconut stuff, but now it spends all its time on the glass, sometimes in the corner by the substrate - but not often.

I've read that sand should not be used because they can ingest the sand and become impacted, but I have not found anything against this type of substrate. Maybe it is the problem?

It could be the temperature. If you're melting ice cubes off the lid then it's going to be chilly near the cubes and where the water falls. You might want a warmer basking area that shoots up to 85 or so and more humidity.

It also sounds like she's not liking the new substrate if she's avoiding it. It could be either from the substrate itself, the coldness of the ice water, or the dampness caused by the water.

__________________
+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

I've never heard of using melting ice cubes to keep humidity up...is that something that's often done? Seems like it would be really cold, and the animals wouldn't like it...

__________________
~Juliane~

sand can become impacted, so you are right about steering clear of that. As for the cocohusk, its the "most digestible" and I use it with every frog I own, but then my frogs aren't geckos and I don't know about that. And what you read about dusting is correct. Once or twice a week is the right amount. Too much calcium can cause problems.

I would steer clear of the ice. A simple spray down of the enclosure once or twice a day should be good enough, especially with the coco-husk. What is on the top of your tank? Is it mesh? If so your heat and humidity is going right out the top! Cover half up with plexi and see how that works.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

http://www.flockreptiles.com/tokay_C...formation.html good care sheet.

The temps are alittle low, need to mist more than with the ice cubes.

ill post more later

__________________

Yes, I'm begining to think it is the substrate also. Perhaps I'll try it in another tank with just paper for a while.

No one else seems to have commented on if their Tokays like the cocohusk, I'm not sure if anyone is using it with them.

I know at the museum they use the cocohusk for most of their herps - I'll double check on the geckos...

I've been using the cubes, 'cause I read it on a couple of sites and didn't have a clean spray bottle...but I can try switching that as well.

The top is a mesh top with a "trap door" opening for easier access, I began covering up half of it a few days ago to try and help keep the heat and humitity in.

Thank you all for your concern and help!!! I'll keep working at it and try some of your suggestions.

Cocohusk shouldn't be bad, but if the gecko's used to a flat surface then he might not feel comfortable on an alien substrate. And you can buy a clean spray bottle really cheap at many stores, often in the gardening section or cleaning isle. Aside from the ice cubes being cold I really don't think they'd raise the humidity enough. If your tank is at the right temperatures then they'd melt right away and be gone. Your tank's set up properly when it mimics a jungle.

__________________
+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

I use the coconut substrate too, and my tokay seems to like it fine... He spends quite a bit hanging out on the glass, but gets down to hang out in his log hide for a few hours, and he hunts his prey on the substrate, and doesnt seem to be bothered by it, he was pretty unsure about it at first, but seems to have ajusted fine. Ive used it for a year now with all my lizards, and I dont have a single complaint about it.... With my cages, I cover half the mesh lid with plastic wrap and use masking tape to secure it. It helps a ton with keeping humidity up.... but ya have to keep it away from the heat lamps.... Hope this helps a little!

__________________
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~ Immanual Kant

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France