help-!

[marylyn101]

i want a tokay but i've read that a 10 gallren for 1 is suitable but then i got several sources saying no less than a 20 gallen. any thoughts.

[PDDM]

10 gallon is too small+has too be taller then longer

[Rikki]

Well said, a 10 gallon is too small for most (if not all) herps.

[Painted Desert]

I have essentially formed the same opinion. 10 gal tanks are isolation tanks, emergency tanks, and cricket tanks. They come in very handy, on many occasions... but not for living accommodations on a permanent basis. The 20gal "long" is only a few dollars more, and provides sooo much more room. On the up side, the 10gal fits into the dishwasher:) ~ ahhh, when mom's NOT home!:D Here's a great chart for tank sizes www.repticzone.com/articles/tanksizes.html

[DragnDrop]

Tokays can get 10 inches or longer without any problem, so they really should be in a large tank. You could use a 10 gallon for a very young gecko, but not for long. An adult would survive in a 20 gallon tall tank (stood on end), but would be much happier in a 30+.
Whoever wrote the info you read about a 10 gallon tank being okay must have been out to lunch.

[Double J]

Originally posted by Rikki
Well said, a 10 gallon is too small for most (if not all) herps.

Hey now......

Ten gallon tanks are great for many amphibs and small geckos. I keep pairs of various species of poison dart frogs, reed frogs, dune geckos (they are only about three inches total length), and one ten gallon tank even houses a pac-man frog. They are also great for fire belly toads (though I keep my fire bellies in a 15 gallon). Small Phelsuma species do well in them as well.
No need to dump on these tanks completely, as they are great for small stuff! Plus, more plants and furniture mean more usable surface area. Ten gallon tanks are also incredibly efficient in terms of racking when you have a fair sized collection. Like I said, they rather spaciously house *small stuff* on a permanent basis.

That said... ten gallon tanks are useless for tokays...... but there is no need to write them off for use with anything :)

Get your tokay a bigger tank. For something grumpy like a tokay.... I would recommend one of these:

http://www.exo-terra.com/products/glass_terrariums_i.html

I bought a few of these the other day for my Lygodactylus kimhoweli geckos. The front opening doors make life much easier. I am sure the 24x18x18 tank would suit a tokay or two rather well. I am actually getting some baby tokays in two weeks. I am rather pumped. I will be purchasing one of these tanks for them. They are rather reasonably priced as well for what they are. Global Exotic pets is selling them for a great price... $90 bucks for the big ones I mentioned.
Here is a link:

http://www.globalexoticpets.com/Product_pages/cages_lighting.htm

Scroll down in this link to get to the tanks.

Good luck

[Manitoban Herps]

I agree that ten gallon tanks can be used for variuous herps, but not for a tokay.

I had my pair in a 2x2x4 cage but had to seperate them b/c the female was getting a bit skinny. But when she gets better I will but them back together for breeding :)

[TLH_Wär§cöötmän]

I totally agree, I have my 2 Tokays in the Exo-terra glass Terrarium that Double J mentioned (I wanted to Double J!!! darn it!!) I bought the 18"x18"x24" And I don't think anything smaller is approprate for a pair. It's lots of room for 1 though. Too small for more than 2 IMO. I was going to get 4, but they don't make 36"x18"x24" Exo-terra glass terrariums :( I still have hopes that they will make them eventually, or you could source out someone to build you one, but that would cost a pretty penny due to costs of glass doors/hinges ect.

They are a good deal also considering they have front doors, vents in the front doors, a built on removable screen top and comes with a styrofoam back wall insert (which my male tokay loves) These Terrariums would be awesome for any aboreal frogs too and other aboreal geckos. Keep in mind a Tokay can get 14" from what I have read, so buy a terrarium that is sized appropriately for how many you want.

I've heard people say that a 10 gal is good for Leos and Fatties also. I do not agree at all with that. As Double J also said they are fine for small 3" species, but nothing larger or they will be cramped IMO also.

To get some ideas marylyn101, take a glance at my Tokay tank on my website. I hope it gives you some ideas :)