Elliot Kim
Crested geckos have sensitive hearing and can perceive sounds through vibrations in the air or on surfaces. They are capable of hearing high-frequency sounds, such as birds chirping, but struggle with low-frequency sounds, such as human speech. While they don't rely on sound for communication, their hearing is essential for detecting danger and locating insects for food. As a result, loud or sudden noises can negatively impact their health and well-being. Understanding the hearing capabilities of crested geckos is crucial for their owners to ensure a stress-free and healthy environment for these reptiles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hearing capabilities | Can hear high-frequency sounds like birds' chirping |
| Don't hear low-frequency sounds or only barely | |
| Can hear human speech only when it is in the higher-frequency range | |
| Can hear sounds between 1.6–5 kHz | |
| Response to sound | Sensitive to sudden and loud sounds |
| May be stressed by music that is too loud | |
| May be hurt by exposure to a lot of loud or sudden sounds | |
| Can detect vibrations in the air or on surfaces, such as the opening of cage doors |
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What You'll Learn
Crested geckos can hear high-frequency sounds
Although crested geckos don't have external ears, they are capable of hearing and can hear high-frequency sounds. Their hearing range is between 1.6 kHz and 5 kHz, with the highest sensitivity between 1.6 kHz and 2 kHz. This means that crested geckos can hear sounds like birds' chirping but may not be able to hear human speech, which falls within the low-frequency range.
While geckos don't rely on sound for communication as much as humans do, sound still plays an important role in their lives. Crested geckos, for example, are a solitary species that only come together to breed. They need to be able to hear to locate insects and be aware of potential dangers.
Geckos are very good at detecting vibrations in the air or on surfaces, and since sound is a vibration, this enables them to "hear" certain sounds. For instance, a crested gecko can sense the vibrations caused by opening a cage door through the air or through the branches it sits on.
Some gecko owners have observed that their pets seem to respond when spoken to, even though human speech falls within a frequency range that geckos typically cannot hear. This suggests that geckos may be able to perceive certain low-frequency sounds, especially when they are loud enough.
Loud or sudden sounds can negatively impact the health of crested geckos. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid exposing them to excessive noise. Playing music at a reasonable volume does not seem to bother crested geckos, but constant vibrations from speakers may cause eggs to hatch prematurely.
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They are sensitive to sudden loud noises
Although crested geckos do not rely on sound for communication, they are still sensitive to sudden loud noises. This is because they have highly sensitive ears and excellent hearing capabilities. They can hear high-frequency sounds, such as birds chirping, but they barely hear low-frequency sounds, like human speech.
Crested geckos can detect vibrations in the air or on surfaces, which can cause them to "hear" certain sounds. For example, they can pick up on the vibrations created by opening a cage door or moving around nearby. This means that even if a sound isn't particularly loud, the vibrations it creates could still be detected by a crested gecko.
Due to their sensitivity, crested geckos can be hurt by exposure to loud or sudden sounds, which can cause stress and health issues. This is something to be aware of when keeping a crested gecko as a pet. While everyday sounds are unlikely to be a problem, loud music or sudden, explosive noises could be harmful.
To avoid causing stress or health issues in your crested gecko, it is advisable to keep the volume of any music or TV at a low level. Playing rainforest sounds, such as crickets and toads chirping, is unlikely to cause any harm and may even help your gecko relax and sleep. However, it is recommended that you do not place a gecko's eggs or incubator near speakers, as constant vibrations may cause the eggs to hatch prematurely.
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Geckos can hear music, but it depends on the volume
Crested geckos do not have external ears, but they can still hear. Their hearing range is different from that of humans. While humans have a hearing range between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, crested geckos can barely hear low-frequency sounds and primarily hear high-frequency sounds. For example, a typical male voice has a range between 85 and 180 Hz, which is in the low-frequency range that geckos may not be able to hear. However, some people have noticed that their geckos respond when spoken to.
The sensitivity of a gecko's hearing means that loud or sudden noises can be harmful to their health and cause stress. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of the volume of music or other sounds that geckos are exposed to. Playing music at a low volume is generally considered safe and may even be relaxing for geckos. Some people play rainforest music with crickets and toads chirping to help their geckos sleep. However, constant vibrations from loud music or other sources can be detrimental, and it is recommended to keep speakers away from gecko eggs or incubators to prevent early hatching.
While geckos can hear music, it is important to be cautious about the volume and duration of exposure. Loud music or sudden, high-volume noises can potentially harm the health and well-being of geckos. As responsible gecko owners, it is crucial to create a calm and safe auditory environment for these fascinating creatures.
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Geckos can detect vibrations through the air or on surfaces
Geckos have sensitive ears, but they are difficult to condition to sound. This makes standard psychophysical assays of hearing sensitivity impractical. However, non-invasive measurements of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) can be used to measure hearing sensitivity in geckos.
Geckos are most sensitive to sounds between 1.6 and 2 kHz and have similar hearing sensitivity to anoles up to about 5 kHz (thresholds typically 20–50 dB SPL). In comparison, humans have a hearing range between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.
Crested geckos, in particular, are capable of hearing, despite their lack of external ears. They are sensitive to sudden and loud sounds but won't have any problems with most everyday sounds. When exposed to a lot of loud or sudden sounds, this can negatively impact their health.
Some gecko owners play music around their pets, which does not seem to bother them as long as it is not too loud. However, constant vibrations can cause gecko eggs to hatch too early, so it is recommended to avoid placing incubators next to speakers.
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Human speech is usually in the low-frequency range
While crested geckos are capable of hearing, they do not rely on sound for communication as much as humans do. This is because they are a more solitary species and do not need to communicate with others of their kind beyond breeding.
Crested geckos have a different hearing range to humans. While humans have a hearing range between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, crested geckos do not hear low-frequency sounds or only barely hear them. Human speech is usually in the low-frequency range, with male voices ranging between 85 and 180 Hz and female voices ranging between 165 and 255 Hz. This suggests that crested geckos cannot hear humans speaking at a normal volume.
However, some people have noticed that their geckos respond when spoken to. This may be because crested geckos are good at detecting vibrations in the air or on surfaces, which they can sense through their hearing. For example, a gecko can detect the vibrations caused by opening a cage door or by movement on the branches where they sit.
Loud or sudden sounds can be dangerous for crested geckos and may impact their health. While everyday sounds are unlikely to be a problem, owners should be mindful of the volume of music or other loud noises around their geckos.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, crested geckos are sensitive to sound, particularly loud and sudden noises. They can hear high-frequency sounds like birds chirping but struggle with low-frequency sounds like human speech.
You can play music around your gecko, as long as it isn't too loud. Some geckos even find music relaxing, especially rainforest sounds. However, constant vibrations can cause stress and health issues, so it's best to avoid placing speakers too close to their enclosure.
As a general rule, if the volume is comfortable for you, it should be fine for your gecko. Playing the radio or TV in the background doesn't usually bother them. Just avoid extremely loud noises or sudden, abrupt sounds.
Crested geckos have difficulty hearing low-frequency sounds, which includes typical human speech frequencies. So, they probably won't understand you when you speak to them in a normal voice. However, some people have noticed their geckos responding to speech, possibly due to detecting vibrations in the air or on surfaces.
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