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Weird Noise

bratzler Dec 01, 2006 03:03 AM

I have a 3 year old female leopard gecko. Recently I've noticed she's been making a strange smacking noise with her mouth, mostly at night after her light goes off. She's done it occasionally before, but it seems to be more frequent now.

She has been in great health the entire time I've had her (2 and a half years). She doesn't appear to be ill or injured. She has plenty of water, a humid hide, the temperatures are fine.

So should I be concerned about this? Anyone know what the heck that is?

Replies (7)

cottonmouth111 Dec 01, 2006 07:48 AM

Usually if it is high pitched "scream", it is them being scared. In my experience that is usually with neonates and from being picked up. Your could be from a number of things. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been any real research done to find out why this happends. Either way, unless your leo is afraid of the dark or crickets, your fine.
Sam

sleepygecko Dec 01, 2006 10:21 AM

That is very strange. I'm probably way off here, but is her calcium ok? I don't know why, but floppy jaws came to mind, but that is seen more in geckos like cresties and gargoyles. Do you have any other leos it is trying to communicate with perhaps? That would be more likely.
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Departed: Harvey and Spock

bratzler Dec 01, 2006 12:11 PM

Nope, no other geckos. I keep a calcium dish in her terrarium to which she has full-time access. It's definitely not a scream either, there's nothing new or different or predatory for her to be afraid of. It's just a loud smacking noise, like someone smacking their lips or like a suction cup being pulled off of something.

What is "floppy jaw" by the way? If by some chance that is the problem, what should I look for?

AndrewFromSoCal Dec 01, 2006 02:16 PM

I think the floppy jaw refers to MBD, where they're not getting enough calcium so they start to draw it out of their bones. Correct me if i'm wrong.

bratzler Dec 01, 2006 06:42 PM

I'm pretty sure that's not it. Like I said, she has a calcium dish.

bratzler Dec 01, 2006 06:43 PM

Also, I dust her food with calcium.

bigeasyreptiles Dec 11, 2006 12:32 AM

I have noticed that my geckos vacalize in the evening and even more so once the lights go out. I would describe the sound as a cross between a grunt and a chirp. This may be the same sound you are hearing. Since it is happening at night, I doubt it is a distress call. I believe this is normal leopard gecko behavior.

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