What's The Deal With The Tokays (geckos)?

[Sheryl]

I've been around these guys (the large geckos, or too-kays in Thai) for decades now and always took them to be harmless and docile things. About a year ago one moved inside my house and had a family and with time they all got big and became a nuisance (their droppings) to the point that I decided I had to evict them. Now my niece, who is Cambodian, insisted that they are scary and dangerous and can fall on you and then stick fast, this I disregarded as some Cambodian folk belief (right up there with eating mangosteen and sugar at the same time will make you drop dead), besides one did fall on me once in the shower and just jumped off (I also jumped, we were both equally startled).

But then today when I asked a Thai neighbor to help me catch and evict them, she -- a fountain of solid common sense -- was also fearful and said that if they bite you, you can't get them off. It became obvious during the eviction process (me with a broom, she with a feather duster, and lots of shrieking and jumping about on the part of all) that they will indeed bite if provoked as they were snapping menacingly at us.

Anyhow managed finally to get them all (I think) outside, then the neighbor mentioned that she would never dare to try it alone.

So now I am wondering: what is the story with these creatures? Anyone know? I've still got quite a few of them in my garden shed....

[britmaveric]

Dunno about sticking properties but they are very yummy to eat.

[crewcut]

The tookay lizard, the largest of all geckos, looks like something out of a children's fantasy book. Pink polka dots on a purple-hued body can deceive the unwary into thinking this is something cute and cuddly. It is not. The Godzilla of the gecko world, this ferocious creature stalks and eats insects as well as those adorable little house geckos tourists love to watch clinging to the walls of their hotel rooms. Not only a menace to geckos, when cornered the tookay has a disposition that makes a rat seem benign by comparison. Not in the least intimidated by an adversary hundreds of times bigger than it, the tookay will often attack any human that dares to disturb its hiding place atop a door jam, behind a picture frame, or hidden in the thatch of a beach bungalow. The lizard's powerful jaw and needle-sharp teeth can easily puncture skin, inflicting a painful and infectious bite. The more one struggles to be released, the tighter the vice-like jaws clamp closed.

Leave your pictures hanging where they are.

I heard that one ate a small dog once! Collar un all.

[lazeeboy]

The tookay lizard, the largest of all geckos, looks like something out of a children's fantasy book. Pink polka dots on a purple-hued body can deceive the unwary into thinking this is something cute and cuddly. It is not. The Godzilla of the gecko world, this ferocious creature stalks and eats insects as well as those adorable little house geckos tourists love to watch clinging to the walls of their hotel rooms. Not only a menace to geckos, when cornered the tookay has a disposition that makes a rat seem benign by comparison. Not in the least intimidated by an adversary hundreds of times bigger than it, the tookay will often attack any human that dares to disturb its hiding place atop a door jam, behind a picture frame, or hidden in the thatch of a beach bungalow. The lizard's powerful jaw and needle-sharp teeth can easily puncture skin, inflicting a painful and infectious bite. The more one struggles to be released, the tighter the vice-like jaws clamp closed.

Leave your pictures hanging where they are.

I heard that one ate a small dog once! Collar un all.

had one in the house a while ago ,hit it with a 2x4 ,well he chased me out of the room ,he was making some weird noises ,suppose i would too after being hit with a lump of wood..

[sbk]

Tokays have a jaw that locks similar to a pitbull.

That said, in the 18 years I have lived in Thailand, with tokays in my bedroom (well --only one) I have never been bitten or attacked. But then, I tend to leave them alone. I get my husband to catch them and remove them. And, since he knows what he is doing, he never gets bitten either.

They will move back btw.

Thai people are told as small children that if they aren't good the tokay will come and bite them and I have yet to meet a Thai woman (and lots of men) who aren't fearful of these creatures. Personally, I like them. The poop is annoying but a small price to pay for a creature that helps keep my house clean of roaches and mice (yes, mice).

**edit** I have to add that I just remembered that young children are told the tokay will come and eat their liver if they aren't good. Not just bite them. Sorry

[elfe]

have them here in my house as well and they don't disturb me really. some even come in my bedroom sometimes but i leave them alone. some of my dogs are very interested in them and once in a while they get one to fall down but he will defend himself bravely and sit on the floor with mouth wide open and making noise. funny to watch about 5 dogs around this small creature not daring to bite it some of my nosey dalmatians though tried their nose on one and got bitten fiercly. it was really funny to watch the shocked dogs screaming trying to shake off the tukay clinging on their nose some blood shed but nothing worse fortunately.

seen the tukays catching mice and hear them chasing mice in the roof which sounds like there are cats playing up there...

[Solosiam]

Aren't these supposed to be the re-incarnation of monks?

Moght be why some are superstitious to chase them away etc...

Have a family living in the back of our kitchen (courtyard) for 3 years now, just sit there, not aggressive at all. Nowhere near as large as teh monitor lizards that used to sleep on our old kitchen skylights.

[qualtrough]

A while back we had one in a place that we didn't want so I caught it wearing a kitchen mitt. It was not pleased, and the inside of its mouth was a disgusting purple. I placed in on the lawn, where it continued to glare at me.

Edited August 27, 2007 by qualtrough

[tahaan]

Definately not to be messed with. I have at least 3 resident outside. Between them they have cut the number of smaller gecko's by half. I'm also holding them responsible for eating the young of a pair of Red Whiskered Bulbuls last month that had nested in a pot plant under the eaves of the house. I'd watched these birds for months from my kitchen window (they're not supposed to live in this part of Thailand) and was disappointed one morning to find the nest empty and the incriminating splashes of Tokay cr@p.

On the good side, if you hear one call "tokay" more than 6 times it's supposed to bring good luck.

[Sheryl]

Not in the least intimidated by an adversary hundreds of times bigger than it, the tookay will often attack any human that dares to disturb its hiding place atop a door jam, behind a picture frame, or hidden in the thatch of a beach bungalow. The lizard's powerful jaw and needle-sharp teeth can easily puncture skin, inflicting a painful and infectious bite. The more one struggles to be released, the tighter the vice-like jaws clamp closed.

What is the correct thing to do to get them off if they latch onto you? (Good to know just in case)

There is still one more in the house which has so far evaded capture and a large number of them in the garden shed.........

Edited August 28, 2007 by Sheryl

[Sheryl]

Personally, I like them. The poop is annoying but a small price to pay for a creature that helps keep my house clean of roaches and mice (yes, mice).

I used to feel that way until the ones in my house got really, really big and hence so did their poop.

Makes me wonder just what they were eating.........

My beloved cat does all that needs to be done mouse-wise. Now, if the tokays would eat fruit bats, I'd lay out a red carpet and invite them all back in. Anyone know if they do (eat bats)? I have a perpetual battle with fruit bats who want to come live in the roof rafters. Had to replace a ceiling due to their guano once. Thought I had finally evicted them for good, but they're baaaack!

[chinthee]

Definately not to be messed with. I have at least 3 resident outside. Between them they have cut the number of smaller gecko's by half. I'm also holding them responsible for eating the young of a pair of Red Whiskered Bulbuls last month that had nested in a pot plant under the eaves of the house. I'd watched these birds for months from my kitchen window (they're not supposed to live in this part of Thailand) and was disappointed one morning to find the nest empty and the incriminating splashes of Tokay cr@p.

On the good side, if you hear one call "tokay" more than 6 times it's supposed to bring good luck.

I love listening to their spooky wind up and barks/growls, love calls or whatever you call it. I will say that every Thai I know says give them a wide berth - they are scared of them and say they have an evil bite.

[crewcut]

"What is the correct thing to do to get them off if they latch onto you? (Good to know just in case)"

I always find that a good joke gets those little blighters to release their grip:

A guy walks into a bar, as he sits down on a stool he notices there's a lizard telling jokes on the stage. The guy says to the barman "whats with the lizard" the barman replies "oh he's the new stand up chameleon.

[chinthee]

"What is the correct thing to do to get them off if they latch onto you? (Good to know just in case)"

I always find that a good joke gets those little blighters to release their grip:

A guy walks into a bar, as he sits down on a stool he notices there's a lizard telling jokes on the stage. The guy says to the barman "whats with the lizard" the barman replies "oh he's the new stand up chameleon.

[Gary A]

I too have heard stories about them. We have quite a few of them outside the house and in the garage/workshop. They are pretty shy and quickly hide if you get too close. Once in a while one manages to get in the house. My wife absolutely won't put up with them being in the house. She says their turds are just too big to put up with. She usually manages to get them out with her trusty broom but the last time one got in he ran under the microwave. She was hollering for my to come in the kitchen. She told me to pick up the microwave so she could catch him. I told her that she would get bit and to go get one of my welding gloves. She told me that she knew what she was doing and to just lift the microwave. I very carefully got my fingers under the microwave fully expecting to lose a fingertip. I lifted it up and she grabbed him bare handed and took him outside. They must not be too dangerous.

[chinthee]

Gary, you didn't tell us you were married to Thai wonderwoman.

[sbk]

I too have heard stories about them. We have quite a few of them outside the house and in the garage/workshop. They are pretty shy and quickly hide if you get too close. Once in a while one manages to get in the house. My wife absolutely won't put up with them being in the house. She says their turds are just too big to put up with. She usually manages to get them out with her trusty broom but the last time one got in he ran under the microwave. She was hollering for my to come in the kitchen. She told me to pick up the microwave so she could catch him. I told her that she would get bit and to go get one of my welding gloves. She told me that she knew what she was doing and to just lift the microwave. I very carefully got my fingers under the microwave fully expecting to lose a fingertip. I lifted it up and she grabbed him bare handed and took him outside. They must not be too dangerous.

GaryA, my husband also catches them barehanded. There is a trick that has something to do with holding their head down and grabbing them by the back of the head (neck? whatever). Be aware that they are territorial and unless you take them far away they will come back.

[Gary A]

I too have heard stories about them. We have quite a few of them outside the house and in the garage/workshop. They are pretty shy and quickly hide if you get too close. Once in a while one manages to get in the house. My wife absolutely won't put up with them being in the house. She says their turds are just too big to put up with. She usually manages to get them out with her trusty broom but the last time one got in he ran under the microwave. She was hollering for my to come in the kitchen. She told me to pick up the microwave so she could catch him. I told her that she would get bit and to go get one of my welding gloves. She told me that she knew what she was doing and to just lift the microwave. I very carefully got my fingers under the microwave fully expecting to lose a fingertip. I lifted it up and she grabbed him bare handed and took him outside. They must not be too dangerous.

GaryA, my husband also catches them barehanded. There is a trick that has something to do with holding their head down and grabbing them by the back of the head (neck? whatever). Be aware that they are territorial and unless you take them far away they will come back.

Right now there are two of them on our back porch. They hide behind a cabinet that my wife keeps shoes in. I enjoy sitting out there watching them catch any bugs that happen to come along. They do get pretty brave when the spot a big bug. They just can't resist going after that nice meal even if it means they have to come within a few feet of a person. My wife complains about their turds but she too spends some time watching them. I fitted the back screen door up so it is sealed pretty well. It's pretty hard for them to get in now.

Sometime back she came in the house carrying a big black scorpion on her bamboo fly swatter. He just sat there like he was enjoying the ride. I asked her why she would bring it in the house and she told me she just wanted me to see it.

We do have a new predator in the bath room. It is a small two tone brown frog. He stays under the washing machine and only come out well after dark. I see him when I get up to pee in the middle of the night. He's been there a couple of weeks now so I guess he's finding enough to eat. Anything that eats bugs is welcome around this house. Since the tookays are back around in numbers we have not seen any centipedes.

[JBL]

My wife tells me that some people used to but one in moonshine and believe it was a form of Viagra

[Gary A]

My wife tells me that some people used to but one in moonshine and believe it was a form of Viagra

My wife's house sits on two rai. The majority of the two rai behind the house was jungle, BIG jungle. I had a Ford tractor come in to clear it out. There were also two VERY large termite mounds. I asked the guy on the tractor to level them and his eyes rolled back. He said they are too hard and it was impossible. I offered him two bottles of Sang Som for taking them out. Of course that made it possible. When he had them about level, a crowd of guys gathered around. My wife told me that they were looking for the huge queen termites. They put the queens in Lao Kao and that gives them BIG power, better than Viagra.

[TBWG]

Hi Meet Toby

Local legend has it that if they bite they go for the throat and won't let go until the next thunderstorm.

Which could be a bit inconvienient if its the start of the dry season.

TBWG

[raro]

Our cats take care of them, same like the smaller geckos, the frogs, the....any sort of creepy-crawlies

[sandyfromoz]

my wife has a very nasty scar on her arm from a 45 minute "battle" with a Tookay. It just wouldn't let go, until she put her arm and the lizard on the ground. As soon as the lizards' feet touched the dirt, it let go!!! But I can understand people trying to fling them off in a panic!!!

[ChangMaiSausage]

Hi Meet Toby

Local legend has it that if they bite they go for the throat and won't let go until the next thunderstorm.

Which could be a bit inconvienient if its the start of the dry season.

TBWG

Hansum fella aint he!

[TBWG]

Hi Meet Toby

Local legend has it that if they bite they go for the throat and won't let go until the next thunderstorm.

Which could be a bit inconvienient if its the start of the dry season.

TBWG

Hansum fella aint he!

Also very amourous judging but the noise he makes calling his ladies!

TBWG

[Gary A]

YEP, he's a nice big one.Unfortunately if he were in our house he would be on the run. My wife would be after him with her trusty little broom heading him for the door.

[girlx]

i currently have 5 tokays living in my house. one lives on the wall just above my head while i sleep, one downstairs in the main room, one in the kitchen, and two in the bathroom. they don't bother me at all, i just leave them alone. i think they eat the rats that come along now and then too!

[chonabot]

If one of these bites you the best way to force it to release is to submerge it's head under water - it will eventually let go in order to escape to oxygen.

This could be tricky depending on which body part has been bitten....

[glassdude007]

my Thai mother in-law once told me about when she was little her next door neighbors baby daughter lost a toe due too a gecko bite (we call em chee- chaa's) hence she always covered our babies feet while sleeping even when it was hot as hel_l .......lol

[sbk]

Only time I've ever encountered a tokay willing to bite was when someone was trying to grab him or get rid of him (or her). My experiences with tokays have always been of the run and hide variety (them, not me )