Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Click for ZooMed
Click here to visit Classifieds

Vocalizations

lefty82 Nov 06, 2006 05:16 PM

Does anybody have a very vocal gecko? Two of mine are.

My largest male is increasingly vocal as he is getting older. He lives alone, and he has a constant supply of fresh water and mealies. The temps are okay, and I really can't find anything wrong. But a few times a day, he will look straight up at the ceiling and let out this squawking noise.

My largest female has the same situation, except instead of chirping, she makes a quiet squeak that almost sounds rodent-like. We don't have mice, it's definitely the gecko.

Any ideas as to what the vocalizations may mean?

Also, they sometimes climb to the highest point in their enclosure, and press their front "hands" onto the glass in what seems like an attempt to claw their way out. Once or twice I've noticed them fall (they never get hurt). They have no way of escaping as I have screens on the tops of the enclosures, but it makes me wonder if they're trying to tell me something.

Are my geckos crazy, unhappy, or just brats?

Replies (9)

AndrewFromSoCal Nov 06, 2006 05:43 PM

Maybe they've sensed/smelled each other and want to play? Haha, I don't know. Both times my boy have squeeked, he's sounded like the raptors from Jurassic Park 3. It's cool.

chameleonphill Nov 06, 2006 06:00 PM

only my juv.s are vocal and they are housed in two separate containers around 5 each. They rarely get handled and do not behave as pets. So maybe, your animals are stressed for some reason and human interaction (even visual) sets that off since i doubt you treat them as i do my juv.s.

Nightflight Nov 06, 2006 08:32 PM

In leopard geckos vocalization is usually defensive or aggressive in nature.

You don't by chance have a Megadeath or Ozzy poster hanging from the ceiling do you? That might scare the heck out of anybody. (j/k)

Interesting that they're looking up at the time. Makes you wonder what they think they see.

lefty82 Nov 07, 2006 09:42 AM

The weird thing is, I usually hear the noises when I'm out of their line of site. Usually when I'm sitting on the couch below where they can see me. I will be minding my own business, grading papers or something, and it just comes out of the blue. I have no idea what they are feeling threatened by.

FireTalon Nov 07, 2006 10:39 AM

lol, they might be trying to annoy you "Quick while shes reading, start making those sounds!" lol, I guess all geckos have different personalities and yours like to, erm 'squawk'

-Allie

-okapi- Nov 07, 2006 08:56 PM

Kristin, I have no clue O.O

I know your leos are babied to death, so its deffienatly not care related. Maybe they are conditioning you to visit them more often, since it always happens when you are out of sight.

Im stumped on this one
-Daniel
-----
Leopard geckos:
3.7.4
(blazing blizzard project, giant blazing blizzard project, and Raptor project)
African Fat Tails:
1.2

mkco79 Nov 07, 2006 09:15 PM

thats really weird. Have they both been proven? Sex wise? I was thinkin it could be a mating thing and the climbing is just them trying to get to each other.

Maybe one owes the other one money and is tired of not getting the payment!! lol

As far as stress or whatever as long as there eating normally and maintaining weight I would not worry that they are feeling mistreated. If that was the case they would definitly show some signs health wise!

M
-----
Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Beardie
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

sleepygecko Nov 08, 2006 07:58 AM

I know Lefty reads a lot and no doubt has perfect recommended temperatures, but when I've seen the scrabbling behavior in geckos we've kept it is because the temperature has been high and they try to climb up the cold side of the enclosure. Once we lower the temp in the cool side they settle down right quick. Our current gecko seems to like it a few degrees cooler than the LGM suggests. Just a thought, ignore at your leisure. Now, if the two sexes' enclosure is close enough, they will try to get at each other, we've seen that even in geckos too young to mate, but we've only seen that if the two enclosures are in contact or close enough to. But this has already been said.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

lefty82 Nov 08, 2006 08:58 AM

Well, my temps at the warm end are at the high end of the reccomended temps because I was told that it may help to improve their colors (keeps them brighter?) as they grow. But now that most of them are approaching adulthood, I guess I can try cranking it down a bit. It is strange because I only get "yelled at" by two of them - the two oldest.

I wonder if they can want to "get at eachother" if the tanks are on opposite sides of the room... Maybe they can smell eachother's pheromones? Interesting.

The sound isn't annoying, I just want to make sure there isn't something seriously wrong. But they are putting on weight and eating like pigs still, so I'm not TOO worried. Gonna turn down the UTH a bit just to make sure. It IS getting cold up here though. Fortunately I'm moving to California on Thursday and it's bound to be a lot warmer.

Site Tools