Thailand Wildlife: Tokay Gecko in Ceiling
The other night I was pouring some water and almost jumped as something crawled out of the ceiling above my head.
Awesome… I was looking at a big 11 inch Tokay Gecko that was partly still inside the hole the rain had made… I asked wifey to video as I attempted to catch it.
I’m scared of it because:
- A couple different Thais have told me they bite and don’t let go.
- Also, I was told they jump on your face if you’re too close.
- The only other lizard that looks like this to me is a Gila Monster and they’re actually poisonous – and have decent teeth.
- I’ve never seen one close-up because they’re always too high to reach.
- I’m used to dealing with snakes with big teeth and his head looks just like a viper.
Anyway, here’s the video and some pictures to follow it.
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Category: thai wildlife
For a long time we’ve shared our building with what I’d call a barking gecko. I was wrong. What are called barking geckos are from Australia, are smaller, and lack the attitude of ours. Though shy and nocturnal, if threatened, (as I saw today) the Tokay Gecko or “Gecko Gecko” can open wide and snap shut like a wide-mouth version of a gator. See details at http://www.thaipulse.com/blog/thai-wildlife/too-geh-or-tokay-lizards-gekko-geckos/ Even a sound track, but nothing as loud as we had being so close.
Ours hung out in the curved notched roofing tile directly outside our bedroom window and easily would awaken us several times a night with its mating call. I caught the right angle 2 nights ago with some ant spray, then today heard it squawk at me as I was walking along the fenced wall between our home and son’s.
The thing was at ear level on the chain-link fence and startled the hell outta me. Then I watched 3 young men not want to approach it. They ended up making a slip noose on the end of a 10′ length of bamboo. Sure enough, the gekko stood its ground – but that allowed the the noose to set itself – once it was over it’s head. I swear it must not have hinged jaws, it opened up like seeing Kermit on TV
Once on the noose, it jumped onto the pole and the guys walked to the underside of the hwy bridge over the river. There they had a challenge of how to pin the critter long enough to use another pole to open up and release the noose.
Our Tokay was about 15″ long and I’d match it (lb-4-lb) against any lizard I’ve ever seen for sheer meanness – once confronted.
Boon says she liked having it around, except for exactly where it set up home. They are quite the pest controllers.
Thanks for sharing that Rudy. They are awesome beasts… and I love to have them around. Once you hear them a hundred times or so – the unconscious doesn’t even register the squawk. That is, unless they are right outside your window and you have a big one. That sounds like a big one. There was on in Phuket I first saw – was MASSIVE… 15 inches, yeah, or more – and fat – very wide… unbelievable… I thought it was a wall ornament as I talked to my friend… it was above his head and his back was to it… nope, it moved and I almost fell over backward. The one we have outside the kitchen now is about 12 inches but not fat. Must be a youngster. The Tokays are great with eating the smaller geckos, roaches, mosquitos and other things you don’t want in your house. Don’t hit them with the ant spray!
Yeah, they stand their ground – they are very defensive… no more so than I’d be if you slipped a noose around my neck, I assure you.
Again, great story…
Did you see this page with the videos I took of me catching the one in my kitchen????
http://www.thaipulse.com/blog/thai-wildlife/thailand-wildlife-tokay-gecko-in-ceiling/
Cheers…
i would like to find the tokay if more than 16 inc long.. please contact me through edited out@yahoo.com.my
Nice video.
I like Gecko’s and i’m wondering if you still have some at your house ,
or maybe still have the one from the video .
If you find some more , and you don’t want to keep them , let me know.
I would like to get them from you , if thats ok .
The bigger the better .
Thanks
Hi Denny,
Yours is like the 8th message I got here at the blog about Tokay Gecko’s, and I also got a number of comments on the videos at youtube about them. Everyone want’s them. For what? You guys eating them? Selling them on the black market to people that eat them? Breed them? Fight them? I don’t get it. These things are ALL OVER Thailand. You can’t spit without hitting one. What’s the attraction? Someone offered me over $500 for it. Another guy just wrote and asked if I saw any as big as 16 inches.
I don’t sell them. I don’t catch them to keep them for long – just take photos and videos – like I do of the snakes – and let them go. Animals aren’t here for us to stick them in a fucking box and forget them until we have to feed them. It’s more than a little bit stupid to me to keep pet reptiles. Not nearly as stupid as having pet birds though.
Why Denny… why do you want the Tokay?
hi vern it is rare to find a tokay gecko in that size and my gf is japanese they think it brings them luck.
thats why i would like to buy it if you wana sell it