Harmless · Popular pet · Native to Southeast Asia

Tokay gecko

Gekko gecko (Linnaeus, 1758)

Also called tokay, red-spotted tokay gecko
Data updated October 2026

Tokay gecko clinging to tree bark, showing its blue-gray body covered in orange spots
Fig. 1 — Adult on bark, with the blue-gray skin and orange spots typical of the species.
Close view of a tokay gecko's large head, big eye with vertical pupil and open mouth
Fig. 2 — A big head, large eyes and a strong bite.

At a glance

One of the largest geckos, a nocturnal climber from Southeast Asia named for its loud “to-kay” call. It is bold, territorial and quick to bite, and it has become established in southern Florida and Hawaii.

01

Identification

The tokay is a heavy-bodied gecko with a large head and big eyes with vertical pupils. Its skin is bluish or greenish gray, covered with orange to rusty spots and pale bluish spots, and it can lighten or darken the base color. Broad, flat toe pads let it run up walls, glass and tree trunks. It is far larger than the small house geckos found around porch lights.

  1. 01Orange spots. Rusty-orange spots scattered over a blue-gray to green-gray body.
  2. 02Size and build. Often 10–12 inches long with a broad head, much bigger than house geckos.
  3. 03Loud call. A barking “to-kay” or “gek-ko,” repeated several times, mostly at night.

Commonly confused with

02

Size

01 ft2 ft3 ft4 ft Typical adult · about 12 in (30 cm)

Most adults measure 10 to 12 inches (25–30 cm) from snout to tail tip, and the largest reach about 14 inches or a little more. Males are usually bigger and heavier-headed than females. That makes the tokay one of the biggest gecko species in the world.

03

Range & habitat

Tokay gecko on a building wall at night
Fig. 3 — Tokays live on tree trunks and rocks, and readily move onto buildings.

Tokay geckos range across Southeast Asia, from northeastern India and southern China through Thailand and the Malay region to Indonesia and the Philippines. They are climbers of tree trunks, cliffs and rocky outcrops, and they are just as at home on houses and other buildings, where lights draw insects.

Through the pet trade they have become established outside Asia, including in southern Florida, Hawaii, Belize and Martinique. Genetic work published in 2025 found that at least two distinct forms of tokay were introduced to southern Florida.

State guides: Florida

04

Diet & predators

Tokays hunt at night, using sight and smell to find prey. Insects such as cockroaches, crickets and locusts make up most of the diet, which is why they are welcome pest controllers in many Asian homes. Their size and strong jaws also let them take small vertebrates, including nestling birds, young mice and other lizards.

Feeds on

  • Cockroaches and crickets
  • Locusts and moths
  • Smaller lizards
  • Nestling birds and young mice

Preyed on by

  • Snakes
  • Owls and other birds
  • Cats
Cockroach on a wall
Prey — cockroaches.
House cricket on a leaf
Prey — crickets.

05

Behavior & seasons

Tokays are nocturnal and spend the day hidden in crevices, tree hollows or gaps in buildings. They are solitary and fiercely territorial, defending their patch against other tokays and other species. Males give the loud “to-kay” call to attract mates and warn off rivals, and threatened geckos open their mouths wide, hiss and croak.

If cornered they bite hard and may hang on. Like many geckos they can drop the tail to escape; it keeps wriggling for several minutes and regrows in a few weeks, usually shorter and plainer than before.

Their grip comes from millions of microscopic hairs on the toe pads. Each hair splits into hundreds of tiny tips that cling to surfaces through molecular attraction, which is why tokays have long been studied by engineers working on dry adhesives.

06

Reproduction

Females lay clutches of two eggs, which are soft and sticky at first and then harden in place. They are glued to walls, rocks or bark, often near a crack or hole, and several females may use the same site. The eggs take roughly 100 to 180 days to hatch, depending on temperature. Tokays live a long time for lizards: over 10 years is common in captivity, and some reach about 20.

07

Conservation

The tokay is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act and remains common in much of its range. Very large numbers are collected for the pet trade and for traditional medicine, and international trade is now regulated under CITES. In Florida it is an established nonnative species, and releasing pets is illegal. Which reptiles are restricted?

08

In captivity

Tokays are hardy but defensive, so they suit keepers who are happy to watch more than handle. House each adult alone, as they fight. A juvenile can start in a 10-gallon tank, but an adult needs at least a 20-gallon enclosure, ideally a taller, vertical one with a secure screen top, cork bark and branches to climb and tight hides.

  • Heat. Daytime around 80–85°F with a warmer basking area (about 90°F or more), and no colder than about 75°F at night.
  • Light. A regular day-night cycle; low-level UVB is commonly recommended.
  • Humidity and water. About 60–80% humidity, with evening misting and good ventilation, plus a shallow water bowl.
  • Food. Gut-loaded insects such as crickets, roaches and hornworms, no larger than the space between the eyes.
  • Handling. Expect bites. Never grab a tokay by the tail, and wash hands after contact, as reptiles can carry Salmonella.

See a reptile vet if your tokay stops eating, loses weight, has trouble shedding, discharge from the eyes or nose, or problems moving. More pet care guides

Keep reading

Sources

Data updated October 2026 · How we build these pages