Can geckos see infrared light?

[Shandley]

Can geckos see infrared light?

So, here is my quick story. I bought a IP camera to watch over my gecko while I was away on vacation. The IP camera has infrared LEDs (non-visible to the human eye light). It also has a X Y Axis motor in it so I can move it around.

It was pitch black in the room where my gecko is and I turned on the IR lights. I could see my gecko. She immediately turned and looked directly at the camera. Weird. I started to move the camera back and forth to check out the rest of the room and when I moved the camera back to look at my gecko, she was pressed up against the glass closest to my camera just staring at it!

I have a recorded video of it somewhere and if I dig it up I will post it.

 

[smsararas2]

I dont know if they could see it but a thought that I had is if the camera maybe makes a touch of "electronic noise"(or whatever it is called) when it was working and she heard that? Just a thought.

 

[gothra]

I think your gecko is seeing the camera movement in the dark; not seeing the infrared.

 

[Pinky81]

+1 on the camera movement!

 

[Dog Shrink]

I know that my leo doesn't appreciate infrared heat bulbs. He won't come out and explore if one was on over his tank, but he didn't care about the moonlight blue bulb. My vote lays with they can see the infrared and it bothers them. There was also another post on the forum some time back where a member did a lil self experiment with lighting and they came up with similar findings. I do however think in this case maybe the leo heard the noses coming from the camera.

 

[gothra]

The commercial reptile infrared bulbs gives off visable red light, that's why leos can see them; not that they can see infrared.

 

[Pinky81]

I can't say that I have the same experiece with my two and the infared bulbs. during the winter months Ive used the IR bulbs for both to suppliment heat (my appt is 65 or less) and Clyde has at times climbed his hide to lay under the lamp. And Bonnie is always laying out in the open with the bulb on. I think each leo is different with its preference.

 

[Jordan]

Infrared light is heat though.

Heat is actually light waves... infrared light waves. im pretty sure.

Not too relevant to the post as such but just a little informative bite.