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Home > Geckos > Leopard Gecko Sounds: 4 Tones & Their Meaning (With Audio)

Leopard Gecko Sounds: 4 Tones & Their Meaning (With Audio)

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Just like us, leopard geckos express their feelings and emotions through noises. However, it can be difficult to know exactly what your leopard gecko feels like based on their sounds. After all, we don’t speak their language.

Even though it is impossible to know exactly what your leopard gecko is thinking, there are some common sounds you could look for to get a hint. Let’s take a look at the four most common leopard gecko sounds and their meaning. Each sound will be accompanied by an audio clip to give you an example of what to listen for.

Let’s get started.

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Do Leopard Geckos Make Sounds?

Just like dogs, cats, people, and birds, leopard geckos make noises that often express how they are feeling. Even though leopard geckos often communicate through noises, it’s hard for humans to understand since we don’t speak the same language.

Leopard geckos can make a variety of sounds, but the most common include chirps, squeaks, barks, and screams. Every leopard gecko will sound slightly different, though the sounds will generally be the same for each pet.

That being said, leopard geckos aren’t particularly vocal. If your leopard gecko is making no sound at all, it is likely relaxed and at peace. Leopard geckos aren’t like parrots or other animals that have to be vocal to feel happy. That’s just something to keep in mind.

The 4 Most Common Leopard Gecko Sounds to Listen For

1. Chirping and Squeaking

Meaning: Happy, Enjoyment

Chirping and squeaking are the most common sounds to look for in your leopard gecko. If you notice your leopard gecko making a bit of a chirping sound, you’re in luck. These sounds are typically connected with happiness, enjoyment, and overall pleasure.

Some geckos make this sound as they roam around their tank, whereas others get a bit more vocal during feeding time. Either way, chirping and squeaking is a great sign since it tells you that your leopard gecko is happy and at ease.


2. Clicking

Meaning: Uncomfortable, Annoyed, Stressed

Clicking is another common sound in leopard geckos, but it isn’t quite as positive. Leopard geckos often click whenever they feel uncomfortable, annoyed, or stressed. You will often hear younger geckos clicking more than older ones simply because they have not yet grown accustomed to humans.

Most likely, your leopard gecko will click whenever you are handling them, after they have eaten, or before they shed. Remember, this is a stressed noise. Once you hear this noise, stop whatever you are doing to let the gecko relax.


3. Barking

Meaning: Threatened, Stressed

Barking isn’t quite as common as clicking, but it is also a sign that your gecko is stressed. In many ways, barking will sound like clicking, but it has a slightly hoarser sound. Barking is less common than clicking because it is a more serious response. Geckos often bark when they feel they are in direct danger, not just when they are uncomfortable or annoyed.


4. Screaming

Meaning: Threatened, Stressed

The least common sound you can hear from your leopard gecko is screaming. Screaming is a key sign that your leopard gecko is scared and feels that it is in danger. Adult geckos rarely scream, though juvenile leopard geckos scream a lot.

If you get a juvenile leopard gecko, expect to hear it screaming quite a bit at first. Be extremely patient and as gentle as possible during this stage. As the leopard gecko grows, it will become accustomed to you and will most likely grow out of the screaming phase.new gecko divider

What to Do About Your Gecko’s Noises

a Leopard gecko
Image Credit: Dr.Pixel, Shutterstock

Whenever you hear your leopard gecko making noises, it’s important to understand what the noises mean so that you can act accordingly. If your leopard gecko is happy, you just need to keep doing what you were doing before.

If you notice that your gecko is making stressed or scared noises, it does not mean that you are a bad owner or doing anything wrong. Most likely, the gecko has not had enough time to get used to being around you and humans.

As a result, it’s imperative to be patient, gentle, and calm when around a stressed leopard gecko. During times of stress, stop whatever you are doing. For example, if your leopard gecko starts clicking as you are holding it, that is a sign you should put the leopard gecko down.

In the case that your leopard gecko seems to make scared noises every time you come around it, you need to work on building trust with your leopard gecko. You can do this by bringing food and treats. Leopard geckos learn very quickly who feeds them and who they can trust. By bringing treats, they learn that you are no danger, and their stressed-out noises are likely to subside.

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Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, we can’t directly communicate with our leopard geckos, no matter how bad we want to. That being said, we can somewhat learn what geckos are feeling based on the different noises they make. Chirping sounds are the best because they show your leopard gecko is at ease.

Barking, screaming, and clicking, however, show that the leopard gecko feels stressed or in danger. Once you hear these sorts of sounds, stop what you were doing and try to build up your gecko’s trust instead. Eventually, your leopard gecko will learn you are no threat.


Featured Image Credit: Thichaa, Shutterstock

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