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Gecko sounds & their meanings

Geckogardener

Geckogardener

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I have seen very little written about the sounds that leos make. My patternless is very friendly, and makes a variety of soft sounds when I hold her. There's a clicking sort of noise, a chirp, and once, when I startled her she sort of squeaked. Except for the squeak, the sounds don't seem to indicate any sort of annoyance or stress. Does anyone know what gecko vocalizations mean? It seems like she's telling me something, but I just don't speak the language, LOL :>poke2<:
 
My girls click at me when I pick them up when they're either very gravid or very full. I think it's more of an "augh, I'm too fat too move, leave me alone!" sorta annoyed click. :D
 
I've only the baby shriek, and I took that as an "We're WAY bigger than we look, and anyone who gets close to us will be sorry!" They're so cute when they do that, though I try to avoid it...
 
Some of mine will grunt when they aren't happy about being picked up. I can feel it much more than I can hear it because it makes their whole chest rumble. Ignore the rumbles and clicking, and you're bound to get bit.

Then there's the baby scream and hiss...which sound much more like a squeaky door and a tire going flat than something you're suppose to be afraid of. That one is pretty obvious...it's ment to startle and warn off something that thinks a baby gecko would make a fine meal...me, I just laugh and eat them anyway! (Did I just say that?)

I find watching body language can tell you much more about the mood of your gecko then listening for those rare sounds. The body language is much more involved and much more expressive...you'd need a new thread for that.
 
Mine make a soft "putt" noise when I have to hold them still, (hand feeding, medications, etc.) One of my patternless females squealed when I sprayed her w/water (accident!)
 
One of my leo will make a "beep" sound when he wakes up and stretch in the evening, very loud squeak, I can even hear him when I'm watching TV in another room. I also have a grumpy leo that whenever he's not happy with something (e.g being picked up), he'll "grrrr....." and then wiggle and jump off, so I need to put him back very quickly as soon as I hear that.
 
When my giant female crawls over my hand she does a grunt/growl noise, kind of like shes working hard to crawl over my hand.
 
This is fascinating. I had no idea there was such a variety of sounds that they could make. It seems as though there is a wide range of meanings depending on the situation and the individual gecko. I guess I'll try to pay more attention to their body language to decipher what they are trying to say!
Thanks for all of your replies!
 
Mine will all make this little squeaks and clicks. I just ignore them and try to be slower and calmer. My little female though. Whew! I was spraying them down one eveing and she didnt hiss, she didnt screech, she SCREAMED. I mean this scared the bujeebuhs outta me. It was almost cat like.
 
Most of these sounds are usually related to being stressed somehow.... Screams and squeaks are without a doubt defensive..... Like most reptiles, leos have their warning noises as well as body posture.... They do not pur like kittens when they are happy and do not use cute little noises to show their approval.....
 
Does being sprayed with water count as stress? Its the first time mines ever done it though. Theyll usually make one initial click grunt or squeak when i pick them up, the females anyways. Then after that they settle right down. My male on the other hand. Never made a noise so long as I've had him. Granted hes the only one to bite me and draw blood...
 
The NY Gecko said:
Does being sprayed with water count as stress?
Click to expand...
Yes it does.... You may have startled it by sraying it..... Also it is not very natural to be "sprayed" with water..... Why do you spray them down anyway????
 
I spray them down because they refuse to drink from a waterbowl. Also, they were a little dehydrated. Shes only done that once. I spray them about every other day. Since I've been using paper towels(carpeting has been ruined) I do it to help them shed as well. The one has had shedding problems. The other too don't but she always ends up getting it around her toe tips and I always end up having to soak her to get it off.
 
The NY Gecko said:
I spray them down because they refuse to drink from a waterbowl.
Click to expand...
Ahh I see.... That is kind of odd though....

The NY Gecko said:
I spray them about every other day. Since I've been using paper towels(carpeting has been ruined) I do it to help them shed as well.
Click to expand...
Just make sure you do not keep them too humid.... Are you using a humidified hide??? If so what are you using as a substrate in the box???
 
I don't have a box, I have a rock cave and one of those half logs. I just dampen the paper towel underneath, and so far its been working better. I've got an undertank heater underneath the cave and the log is on the other side of the cage, its a 20L.
 
I've noticed that those rock caves aren't that great with holding in humidity.

I think that is what Gregg is getting at.
 
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