Do Geckos Make Noise? (The Crazy Noises They Make)

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abilities, such as climbing walls and shedding their tails.

Have you ever wondered, though, do geckos make noise?

If you’ve never encountered geckos, they might seem like silent creatures. However, geckos make several sounds.

Let’s explore those fascinating creatures further and find out what kind of noises they make and why.

What Sounds Do Geckos Make?

Geckos make various sounds, and each sound has its meaning. Geckos use sounds to communicate.

Sometimes, those sounds express their mood or interest in the other gender. Other times, they could be related to a health issue.

Therefore, if you own a gecko or hope to acquire one, you should understand the meaning of each sound. You might also be simply interested and want to know more about geckos’ sounds.

Here’s a list of the different sounds geckos make:

• Clicking
• Squeaking
• Barking
• Chirping
• Screaming

Let’s look at each sound separately to see why geckos make it and what it indicates.

Clicking

Clicking sounds like short but sharp taps. Geckos make this sound by clicking their teeth together.

Geckos continuously click when they’re displeased, stressed, or handled roughly. A gecko will also make clicking sounds when it feels threatened by another gecko.

Another reason geckos might click their teeth is if they’re having a respiratory problem. In such a case, gecko owners should go to a vet.

Squeaking

Squeaking is a sharp, mildly intense noise, and it can indicate two things. The first is that the gecko is afraid or stressed. It can also mean that a gecko is trying to attract a mate.

Geckos also scream when they’re startled. For instance, a sudden noise might cause a gecko to squeak.

Moreover, squeaking could indicate that a female gecko is interested in a male gecko.

Barking

Barking is a strained and abrupt noise that geckos make in serious and dangerous situations. Barking has a different meaning than clicking or squeaking, which may indicate stress or displeasure.

Barking, however, means the gecko is in real danger. They make this sound to warn off predators or other geckos that might attack them.

Additionally, geckos will usually make swift jumps along with the barking sounds.

Why Do Geckos Chirp?

Chirping is one of the most common sounds that geckos make. This sound is a good sign because it means your gecko is happy.

Chirping has a pleasant, soft, and musical sound; it’s almost close to a bird’s tweet. Sometimes, geckos will chirp when it’s their feeding time to show excitement.

Other times, they’ll do it when they feel safe or at ease with their owner or environment.

Why Do Geckos Scream?

Screaming is another common sound that geckos make. The scream sounds like a high-pitched shriek and is a bit unpleasant.

There are several possibilities for why geckos may scream.

Age

Geckos typically scream when they’re afraid, so young geckos tend to scream a lot more than adults. This is because when geckos are young, they’re still learning to cope with their environment and are scared by most of their surroundings.

As they grow older, geckos will get calmer and rarely make screaming sounds.

Fear

Young and sometimes old geckos scream when they’re scared of something, such as a loud noise or a predator.

They’ll also scream to warn other geckos of a possible danger.

Pain

Screaming could also be a sign that a gecko is in pain. In a way, the screams can be a call for help.

Furthermore, geckos scream when they’re sick or suffering from a health problem. To keep your gecko in good health, here are a few care tips to follow:

• If you see a change in your gecko’s behavior, observe it and try to understand the reason.
• Keep the gecko’s tank clean to prevent the spread of any infections or diseases.
• Avoid placing several male geckos in the same tank as they might start to fight.
• Maintain adequate temperature in the tank (not too cold and not too hot).
• Consult a vet if your gecko is showing signs of illness.

Why Do Geckos Make Noise at Night?

If you own a gecko or you live where geckos are available, you might have heard them making lots of noises at night. Geckos make noises at night for different reasons.

Social Communication

By nature, geckos are social creatures. They use various sounds to communicate with each other, and they use different calls for different situations.

Geckos make noises to greet or warn each other or call out for potential mates.

Defense

Geckos may make noise at night because they’re threatened or in danger. They will make sounds ranging from screamings, squawking, or barking if they feel scared.

They use these sounds to startle and scare off their predators. They also make defensive sounds if they feel unsafe with a human or when handled roughly.

Mating

Since geckos are active at night, this is the time when they look for mates. Male geckos will make particular sounds to draw in females.

Females respond with sounds as well, either to show interest or to dismiss the male gecko.

Claiming Territory

Male geckos are territorial creatures. They make sounds to challenge and ward off other males when trying to attract a female.

Additionally, geckos are possessive of their living space and will fight or harm other geckos to protect their homes. They tend to make loud noises in an effort to drive away geckos in their territory.

How Loud are Gecko Noises?

Geckos’ sounds are relatively low in comparison to other animals since they make a lot of their sounds by vibrating their tails or teeth. Thus, their noises aren’t too loud.

One gecko that’s known to be exceptionally louder than others is the Tokay gecko. It’s one of the largest geckos alive today and is native to East and Southeast Asia.

Tokay geckos make sounds that can be heard from long distances.

Reasons Your Gecko Might Be Making Noises of Distress

A lot of the noises that geckos make such as clicking or chirping indicate fear. You should get to know the reasons that scare your gecko to understand how to deal with them.

Mishandling

Geckos are highly defensive and sensitive creatures. They prefer gentle treatment and hate it when you hold them roughly.

When your gecko sees your hand reaching to grab it, it might start making squeaking or clicking sounds. Therefore, you must handle your gecko gently, especially when picking it up.

If the gecko feels safe, it may make soft chirping sounds when you’re handling it.

Changing Its Home

Geckos get accustomed to their environment, and they’ll feel stressed if you change their tank or its location. In such situations, geckos might make loud noises such as screaming.

If you change a gecko’s tank, or you’ve just acquired a new gecko that you’re bringing home for the first time, it’s important to create a relaxing environment for it.

You must limit hand contact to avoid startling it. Give your gecko around two weeks to adjust to its new home before you consider handling it.

The Gecko Is Scared of Other Pets

Common house pets like cats or dogs are curious. If they see a creature as small as a gecko. they might unknowingly bother it, which will cause the gecko to be scared and make fearful noises.

As such, you must keep your gecko tank away from pets if you have any.

The Tank or Enclosure Isn’t Right

A lot of gecko enclosures open from the top. However, enclosures that open from the front are much better and will reduce the noises your gecko makes.

A front-opening enclosure eases the process of picking up your gecko and makes it less stressful.

When you pick your gecko from the front, it can see your hands approaching and will be more prepared. However, picking it up from the top will cause it to be scared and start to make noises.

Final Thoughts

Geckos are highly vocal creatures that use sounds to convey several meanings and communicate their intentions, feelings, and needs.

They make sounds in the form of clicking, squawking, barking, chirping, and screaming.

They’re also sensitive creatures and make a lot of their noise when they’re afraid. As such, they need to be handled gently.

If you have a gecko, it’s important to learn how to take care of it and understand what the different noises mean.

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