Tail Wagging

Daylight_Thieves

Leopard Gecko Addict!
Messages
141
Location
Muskego, Wisconsin, United States
What does it mean when a gecko wags his tail. Dandilyon will do it when he eats but then there are other times when he does it while he's crawling around. He will actally stop and then wag his tail like a cat does that is angry at something....

Is he mad? Is he marking his territory? I is confused.... Either way it is adorable!!!!:main_yes:
 

Palor

Chaotic Nights Reptile
Messages
449
Location
Two Rivers WI
If they are doing big exaggerated slow tail movements, that is their defensive behavior. A quick wiggling of the end of the tail means they are excited.
 

gumbii

New Member
Messages
100
he hates you...


nah i'm just kidding...


bah... i remember seeing a video on youtube that showed a female leo being introduced to a giant albino in a tub... he started wagging his tail so hard it was making noise on the container... i thought it was so awesome and cute... but i can't find it now... what a bunch of fail... oh well...



i think he's trying to get your attention... well that's what i would say...
 

Daylight_Thieves

Leopard Gecko Addict!
Messages
141
Location
Muskego, Wisconsin, United States
If they are doing big exaggerated slow tail movements, that is their defensive behavior. A quick wiggling of the end of the tail means they are excited.

If it's defensive behavior, is he doing it because of me, or something else in my room? I have a fan that is nearly level with him when he is crawling around on me but at the other end of the room... Could he be mad at that... or defensive rather?
 

Jordan

New Member
Messages
1,409
Location
Sheffield, UK
ive noticed that mine seem to do the slow exaggerated tail swishing just before they lay down and poo lol. dunno if anyone else had seen this but mine do.
 

tlbowling

Geck~OCD
Messages
1,758
Location
NJ
They do the tail tip wiggle when they spot food, I absolutely love it! :) so cute. But the slow wave of the tail over their back definitly means they are being defensive! My first gecko doesnt care for being handled, so he does that movement if we are trying to touch him (but he loves communicating behind the glass :) ). I recently got a RAPTOR female, and she did this movement right before she LUNGED at ME with her mouth open! I honestly had no idea they could jump that high! At least 8-10 "! She definitely was NOT happy when this slow tail waving was going on. So I dont know why yours is doing it, but I dont think its a sign of affection ;)
 
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gumbii

New Member
Messages
100
He doesn't run from me or act offensive in any way... In fact, he usually licks my hand then proceeds as usual... He's an attention hog though....

hahahah... that's what i was going to say... he's just spoiled and wants all the attention...
 

Daylight_Thieves

Leopard Gecko Addict!
Messages
141
Location
Muskego, Wisconsin, United States
It's interesting though because, since he started doing that, my female gecko refuses to come by me or come out of her cage. She does the exaggerated slow tail wagging which means 'get the hell away from me'. Could it be that he is marking his territory and therefore, the female thinks that she can't go near me? In contrast, when my boyfriend picks her up, she is fine.

On the other hand, I may just have retarded geckos. lol
 
C

cal3g

Guest
Mine does it just before she pounces on a mealworm and carries it off to her cave all proud of herself for her catch....really cute
 

M_surinamensis

Shillelagh Law
Messages
1,165
In both cases, it is done to draw attention away from their head.

When confronted with a potential predator, the tail waving makes it more likely that they will be attacked on the tail- which they can drop in order to escape.

When they are confronting prey, it acts as a distraction, keeping the prey species' attention and reducing their ability to dodge or flee from the actual strike when it happens.
 

GeckoNub

New Member
Messages
333
Location
UK
Slow swishing means theyre not happy or theyve seen something that scares them. Believe it or not Daisy used to "tail swish" at her reflection sometimes...she doesnt really get on well with other lol

Mine also do a swish when theyve just pooped. I know its icky but they go to their "poo spot"...wait for a little bit, lift their tail up a bit, poop, then slowly walk away while moving their tail like their trying to clean their bottom lol
 

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