Can Gargoyle Geckos Change Color?

When a gargoyle gecko shows its brightest colors, it is called firing up.
When a gargoyle gecko shows its dullest colors, it is called firing down.
Gargoyle geckos may change color depending on their mood, the temperature of the tank, their health, and their genetics.

Gargoyle geckos have the tendency to turn into the darkest or lightest shades of their body color depending on a variety of factors – and don’t worry, most of these factors are not a cause for concern.

In this article, we will look into what those factors are, what firing up and down means for a gargoyle gecko, and when should you be concerned about certain color changes in your gargoyle gecko.

Can Gargoyle Geckos Change Color?

Yes, gargoyle geckos can change color.

In the wild, changing colors is a safety mechanism for gargoyle geckos. They change colors to camouflage and hide from their predators. But this behavior does not stop in captivity.

Even in captivity, pet gargoyle geckos have the tendency to change their body colors. This is not always a cause for concern because it is a learned behavior that has now become a part of the natural habits of a gargoyle gecko.

In fact, this is not a behavior unique to gargoyle geckos. Even crested geckos, that come from the same natural habitat of New Caledonian rainforests, show the tendency to change their body colors and patterns.

The ability of gargoyle geckos to change the colors and patterns of their bodies is one of the major reasons why they are one of the most popular choices among reptile enthusiasts.

light coloured gargoyle gecko — Light colored gargoyle gecko

How Many Colors Can Gargoyle Geckos Change Into?

A gargoyle gecko can change into a variety of colors. Some of the colors include tan, green, brown, and grey. In fact, some gargoyle geckos also show patterns like stripes, dots, spots, etc.

These different combinations of colors and patterns make gargoyle geckos a true visual treat for all reptile lovers.

In fact, this behavior of changing colors and patterns is a major reason why so many reptile enthusiasts like having crested geckos and gargoyle geckos as pets!

While there is no limit on how many colors gargoyle geckos can change into, reptile enthusiasts usually just divide it into two broad color groups: one is when your pet gargoyle gecko turns into its brightest or darkest shades, and the other is when your pet gargoyle gecko turns into its lightest or dullest shades.

4 Reasons Why Gargoyle Geckos Change Color

In the wild, the major reason why a gargoyle gecko changes color is to hide from predators.

However, this behavior continues in captivity as well, even when there are no predators. This raises the curious question: are there factors other than survival that make a gargoyle gecko change colors? The answer is yes.

There are 4 other major reasons why a gargoyle gecko may change its colors and patterns every now and then:

Temperature of the tank

Gargoyle geckos are ectotherms, meaning that they rely on their external environment to regulate their body temperature.

When it is cold, gargoyle geckos may darken their color to absorb more heat. When it is hot, they may lighten their color to reflect heat away from their bodies.

Mood of the gargoyle gecko

gargoyle gecko on a skull — Gargoyle geckos change color when fired up or down

Sometimes, when the temperature and other factors of the tank are ideal or close to ideal, your gargoyle gecko may still change its color.

This may be because of its mood. Whenever your gargoyle gecko is in some intense mood, like excited, aggressive, or threatened, it will tend to change to a darker color.

On the other hand, whenever your pet gargoyle gecko is in a relaxed and low-intensity mood, it will be in lighter shades.

Health of the gargoyle gecko

Sometimes, when a gargoyle gecko is sick, it may turn to a lighter shade. But this doesn’t mean that every time your pet gargoyle gecko turns into a lighter shade it is sick. You need to look out for accompanying signs.

If your gargoyle gecko is turning to a lighter shade, and simultaneously it seems lethargic, has reduced appetite, and seems distressed, then it may be an underlying health issue that needs to be looked at.

Genetics of the gargoyle gecko

Some gargoyle geckos are simply more colorful than others because of their genetics. It is very much like how some of us humans are more prone to mood swings than others, simply because of how we are wired naturally.

In the same way, if a certain gargoyle gecko is naturally excitable, it may change colors more frequently. And if a gargoyle gecko is naturally more laid-back, it may show less frequent changes in color.

The Meaning Behind A Fired Up Vs Fired Down Gargoyle Gecko

All the discussion that we have had about the colors of a gargoyle gecko changing from dark to light and vice versa has been done in simple language. When you use the technical terms for it, you say “firing up” or “firing down”.

This is to say that the firing up and down of a gargoyle gecko is nothing other than it turning to dark when it is excited and light when it is relaxed.

These are just the more technical lingo used in the reptile enthusiast community. Firing up means your gargoyle gecko is turning to a darker shade and firing down means your gargoyle gecko is turning to a lighter shade.

Why Did Your Gargoyle Gecko Suddenly Turn White?

While turning to a lighter shade is not that much of a concern, if your gargoyle gecko suddenly turns white, it can show some underlying issues.

Three major reasons why a gargoyle gecko may suddenly turn white are:

Ecdysis

Ecdysis is the natural process of shedding skin that every gargoyle gecko undergoes regularly. During the shedding period, your gargoyle gecko may turn white or milky. That’s mostly the older, dead skin being shed.

Once the shedding process is over, your gargoyle gecko will turn back to its original colors.

Sickness

Another common reason why a gargoyle gecko may suddenly turn white is some sort of underlying sickness.

So, if your gargoyle gecko has suddenly turned white, look out for accompanying symptoms such as reduced appetite, changes in bowel movement, lethargy, and overall body language of the gargoyle gecko.

Stress

Have you kept the tank of your gargoyle gecko in a room that has too many distractions such as people coming and going, loud noise, or kids playing around?

Or are the parameters of the tank, such as temperature and humidity, not in the ideal range?

Or have you put multiple gargoyle geckos in cohabitation in the same tank? These are common reasons that can stress out a gargoyle gecko.

And under such stress, your gargoyle gecko may suddenly turn white. If that happens, it is important to put your gargoyle gecko in a separate, standalone tank and place the tank in a quiet room with the least possible distractions and noises.

Otherwise, chronic stress can lead to health issues for your pet gargoyle gecko.

Summary

Gargoyle geckos are fun, majestic creatures. Their ability to change colors and patterns adds to the whimsy of owning a pet gargoyle gecko.

However, it is important to know the causes of color changes in your gargoyle gecko, because sometimes such changes may hint toward some underlying issue that requires immediate attention.

As long as your gargoyle gecko has a stress-free environment to live in, the color-changing behavior is most likely not a cause of concern.

Key Takeaways

When a gargoyle gecko shows its brightest colors, it is called firing up.
When a gargoyle gecko shows its dullest colors, it is called firing down.
Gargoyle geckos may change color depending on their mood, the temperature of the tank, their health, and their genetics.