All About Gargoyle Gecko Sleeping Habits Explained
Are you curious about your gargoyle gecko’s sleeping habits? Does it keep its eyes open or sleep upside down? What are the signs to know if your gecko is sleeping? Let’s answer all your questions.
Typically, gargoyle geckos don’t sleep with their eyes closed due to the absence of eyelids. Instead, they constrict their pupils. They may also sleep upside down and prefer sleeping during the daytime.
To know more about a sleeping gargoyle gecko, read on!
Contents
Why Do Gargoyle Geckos Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
As gargoyle geckos don’t have eyelids, they cannot close their eyes and sleep that way. However, they don’t keep their eyes fully open either.
Gargoyle geckos try to constrict their pupils as much as possible to prevent too much light from seeping in when they are trying to sleep. This allows them to sleep even while keeping their eyes open.
How to Know If My Gargoyle Gecko Is Sleeping?
There are a few ways to know when a gargoyle gecko is sleeping. Look out for the below-mentioned signs:
Check Out The Eyes
The biggest indication of a sleeping gargoyle gecko is its eyes. Gargoyle geckos don’t close their eyes. However, their pupils are constricted so that the eyes look like a slit and relaxed.
On the other hand, if they’re awake, their eyes are wide open and alert.
Poor Activity Level
If you have a gargoyle gecko, you may notice they’re chirpy during the night. This is because they’re nocturnal and are more active at night.
However, your gecko may not have any activity at all during the day. They may not even make any noise or even respond to any stimulus (i.e. you touching them). Thus, indicating that they’re asleep or resting.
Pale Skin Color
Did you know that many geckos, including gargoyle geckos, go pale while asleep? There’s no particular reason discovered for it yet. However, many gargoyle gecko owners have observed this phenomenon.
Sleeping Habits
Gargoyle geckos love to sleep in enclosed and concealed areas. They won’t stay in the open space when they’re planning to fall asleep. Instead, you’ll find them hiding in an enclosure in their tank.
The table below demonstrates the differences between a sleeping gargoyle gecko and an awake one.
| Category | Sleeping Gargoyle Gecko | Awake Gargoyle Gecko |
| Eyes | In small slits | Wide and active |
| Activity Level | No sound or movement | At least some sound and movement are there. |
| Skin Color | Slightly pale | Vibrant |
| Breathing | Slow and relaxed | Typically faster |
| Response to Stimulus (like touch) | Little to no response | Response given |
Why Do Gargoyle Geckos Sleep During The Day?
Gargoyle geckos, like most other geckos, are nocturnal in nature. Therefore, they are asleep during the day and stay more active at night.
The nocturnal behavior of gargoyle geckos comes from their prey-like nature in the wild. As geckos are small reptiles, large predators are highly likely to kill them for food during the daytime.
Moreover, as gargoyle geckos are desert inhabitants, the temperature there during the daytime is at its peak and can get unbearable for them. Therefore, they have evolved to become nocturnal for their survival.
Consequently, you will find that most gargoyle geckos stay inactive and silent during the day. However, they may move around a lot and may even be extremely vocal at night time.
How Long Do Gargoyle Geckos Sleep?
Most gargoyle geckos may sleep for 10 to 12 hours on an average between dusk and dawn. However, this isn’t a fixed figure as it depends on your gecko.
Some gargoyle geckos might sleep less, whereas some might sleep a lot. Note that undersleeping or oversleeping may signify a hidden illness in your gecko.
Do Gargoyle Geckos Ever Sleep Upside Down?
Gargoyle geckos usually curl up and sleep. However, they may sleep upside-down sometimes, too, due to a semi-prehensile tail. Such a type of tail allows these geckos to hold or “grab” onto things so they can hang and sleep upside down.
However, if your gargoyle gecko is sleeping upside down on the enclosure’s sides, there are a few risks. Sleeping this way may weaken the tail and cause a cosmetic defect known as the Floppy Tail Syndrome.
In Floppy Tail Syndrome, the tail flops over perpendicular to the gargoyle gecko’s body when it’s in a vertical position.
The best way to avoid FTS is by providing your gecko with lots of branches and hiding areas. This way, they won’t sleep upside down on a flat surface like their enclosure’s sides.
Why Is My Gargoyle Gecko Not Sleeping?
Gargoyle geckos are sensitive to their environment. Therefore, there might be some disturbances or changes in their surroundings that may affect their sleep schedule.
So, you may want to look out for the below-mentioned reasons if your gecko isn’t sleeping at all.
| Cause | Reason |
| Improper Cage Environment | Gargoyle geckos cannot generate body heat. Therefore, they need heat and warmth from their environment to feel comfortable and sleep nicely. So, if you’re not providing proper humidity, light, and temperature to your gecko, they may not find a comfortable environment to sleep in. |
| Food Problems | If you’re not feeding your gecko with proper food, it may lead to nutrition problems. For instance, your gargoyle gecko may suffer from impaction. Thus, they’ll be unable to sleep due to the discomfort. Noise Consistent loud noises can create behavioral problems in gargoyle geckos. So, it may make them irritable and stressed, and unable to sleep. |
| Other | Some other reasons why your gecko isn’t sleeping include – illness, and stress. |
What Can I Do?
If your gargoyle gecko isn’t sleeping, try out the tips given below.
Check The Cage Environment
Firstly, ensure that your gecko’s cage environment is proper. For instance, the ideal temperature lies between 77°F and 84°F. The humidity should be around 60% to 80%.
You should also have a proper UV-B light for the gecko’s enclosure and keep it on for at least 12 hours a day.
Note: Don’t keep a blue light as it can disrupt your gecko’s circadian rhythm or sleep cycle.
Give Proper Food
Improper food can disrupt your gargoyle gecko’s internal body workings. So, ensure that you give them a healthy blend of fruits, vegetables, and small feeder insects.
You should also avoid giving very large feeder insects as they may lead to impaction, which can again cause sleeplessness in geckos.
It’s also best to avoid giving any sugary items to your gargoyle gecko. Too much sugar can cause indigestion and may also lead to stress and hyperactivity. Thus, leading to a lack of sleep.
Eliminate Too Much Noise
Long exposures to noisy environments can easily cause stress in gargoyle geckos. This stress can further result in sleeplessness. So, try to find the source of noise in your house and eliminate it.
For instance, if you tend to play loud music on your speakers during the day, try to turn it off, and see if your gecko can sleep then.
See a Vet
Lastly if you have tried everything for your gargoyle gecko and cannot see any results, you should consult a vet. There might be a more serious underlying cause that is not letting your gecko sleep.
When Should I Worry?
It is a cause of concern if your gargoyle gecko hasn’t slept for more than two to three days.
You should also consult a vet if you notice other changes in your gecko, like loss of appetite and constant lethargy.
