Do Crested Geckos Make Noise?
Since crested geckos are reptiles, just like snakes, it’s common to think that they lack any meaningful vocalization capabilities, just like snakes. But you would be wrong.
All inexperienced reptile lovers are caught off guard by the gecko’s wide range of vocalization since they almost never expect it.
Naturally, all of the gecko’s inflections signify something. They don’t make random noises but actually communicate intentions and states of mind.
Learning their ‘language’ is key to understanding your gecko’s behavior.
Why Do Crested Geckos Make Noise?
Crested geckos tend to make noises whenever something disturbs their lifestyle’s natural rhythm. This includes being scared, surprised, angry, anxious, excited, lethargic, etc.
Geckos don’t display a wide range of emotions but will exhibit the basic ones, shedding some light on their current state of mind.
Overall, there are several vocalizations that any gecko will exhibit at one point or another:
- Chirping
- Squeaking
- Whistling
- Barking
- Hissing
Let’s see what each means.
Are Crested Geckos Noisy at Night?
Yes, crested geckos are especially noisy at night because they are nocturnal animals. So, that’s when most of their activities take place.
Expect your gecko to eat, roam its habitat, interact with other geckos (if any are available), mate, and even fight.
All these activities will raise some level of vocalizations, aiming to express the gecko’s state of mind. If your gecko is overly noisy, try to investigate the issue more closely.
It may be due to inadequate gecko dynamics, leading to social tensions and stress.
Geckos are known to fight over space, food, and during the mating phase when hormones are more impactful than usual.
Why do Crested Geckos Chirp?
The gecko’s chirping may sound innocuous or even joyful, but it’s actually the opposite.
The gecko will use this sound to express some level of stress or when uncomfortable for various reasons.
The reptile’s chirping may be aimed at you, other geckos sharing its space or any other perceived threat.
It may also signal distress or pain, including digestive problems. Either way, always investigate your gecko more closely if it keeps chirping for no apparent reason.
Why do Crested Geckos Bark?
The barking sound is a gecko-gecko vocalization-only. This form of ‘talking’ is specific to females who use it to ward off the male’s sexual advances.
This is a necessary oral tactic since gecko males can be quite pushy during the mating phase.
They will even attempt to mate with gravid females who are no longer interested in their advances. The female will make its intentions known via barking at first, then go physical if the male plays dumb.
This is an important point because gecko females can experience stress when in the presence of an overly energetic male.
So, make sure you assess your geckos’ dynamics closely and take measures in case their social tensions rise high.
The latter is rather prevalent whenever you have more than one gecko in the same habitat. That’s because geckos are not social creatures, so they are bound to step on each other’s toes frequently.
Why do Crested Geckos Hiss?
In most cases, the hiss inflection is a threatening sound, although geckos can also use it when scared or surprised. If the hissing is aimed at you, it probably means that the gecko either takes you as a threat or is unsure of your intentions.
This is more prevalent in new geckos that haven’t been accustomed to their environment yet.
The new tank syndrome will come with several problems, one of them being your gecko experiencing some form of stress. If your gecko hisses at you, give it some space so that it will calm down and reset.
And avoid handling the reptile if it hasn’t adapted to its new setting yet. Geckos need space to grow their comfort level, learn their surroundings, and get accustomed to your presence.
Why do Geckos Whistle?
This is a more innocuous sign, as geckos typically whistle to communicate with each other. It’s not about the message necessarily but about the simple act of talking and making themselves known.
Crickets, birds, and a variety of other animals use vocalizations to merely communicate without necessarily conveying any specific state of mind.
They just like to exchange sounds for the sake of it, so nothing too worrying here. You will get a lot of whistling, among other sound prints, the more geckos you have in the same environment.
Why do Geckos Squeak?
This is an interesting one because geckos don’t tend to squeak that often. The reason for that will become apparent shortly.
The squeaking sound is another female-only vocalization. Females squeak when they’re interested in a male’s attention during the mating phase.
Usually, that’s all that the male needs to get to work, aside from the obvious hormonal ‘wind.’
So, don’t expect the gecko to squeak at you. It will make for a weird case if it does.
Do Crested Geckos Make Noise When Breeding?
Yes, crested geckos make noise when breeding, but who doesn’t? Am I right?
The male is the more likely culprit here since he’s the one causing all the ruckus. The male will dominate the female by mounting her and biting its crest around the head and nape.
During this time, the gecko male will let go of a variety of noises, including squeaking, squealing, and squawking.
It should make for quite the sound spectacle until the job is done, which shouldn’t last long.
Conclusion
Geckos are quite noisy animals for their size and species. As you’ve learned, they will emit a variety of vocalizations, but that’s not the only source of noise you should expect. They produce sounds via other means as well, such as digging and eating. Their live prey will produce sounds of its own when caught.
So, if you’re getting geckos in the hope of acquiring a quieter pet, think again. It’s not to say that the gecko is extremely noisy, but it won’t respect your need for silence either.
