Crested geckos may not communicate with us through sounds and expressions the way dogs and cats do, but they are constantly giving their owners clues about how they feel.
Learning to recognize these behaviors can help owners better understand when their crested gecko is relaxed, curious, excited, stressed, defensive, or simply behaving like a perfectly normal gecko.
Slow Tail Wag
A slow, deliberate movement of the tail can indicate that your crested gecko is calm and exploring its surroundings. It can also signal cautious curiosity as your gecko evaluates what is happening around it.
Fast Tail Twitch
A rapidly twitching tail often means something very different. This can indicate agitation, excitement, or hunting behavior. If you are handling your crested gecko and notice rapid tail movement, it may be telling you that it would prefer to be put down.
Firing Up
Crested geckos can dramatically change the intensity of their coloration. When a gecko becomes darker, brighter, or more vivid, owners often describe it as being "fired up."
This can happen when the gecko is active or alert and is especially common during nighttime hours when crested geckos naturally become more active.
Barking or Chirping
Yes, crested geckos can make noise.
Short squeaks, chirps, or barking sounds can be a vocal way of communicating. Depending on the situation, these sounds may indicate stress, discomfort, surprise, or simply that the gecko would rather not be handled at that moment.
Open Mouth Gaping
An open mouth can be a defensive warning.
If your crested gecko opens its mouth while interacting with you, pay attention to the rest of its body language. It may be communicating that it feels threatened, frightened, or uncomfortable and wants some space.
Licking Their Eyes Learning Their Language
This behavior can look unusual to a new crested gecko owner, but it is completely normal.
Crested geckos do not have movable eyelids like humans. Instead, they use their tongues to clean and moisten the transparent surface covering their eyes.
It may look strange the first time you see it, but it is simply part of being a crested gecko.
Learning Their Language
One of the joys of ownig an exotic pet is discovering just how much these animals communicate once we learn what to look for.
A tail twitch, change in color, little chirp, open mouth, or lick across an enormous gecko eye may seem insignificant at first. Over time, owners begin recognizing these behaviors and understanding the individual personality behind them.
The better we learn their language, the better we can provide the patient, attentive care these fascinating little companions deserve.