Leopard gecko tongues are special organs with many functionalities. Your little guy will use the Swiss Army knife-like organ to learn about his surrounding, smell, hunt, eat and groom himself. Let’s dive in to learn more about leopard gecko tongue including how they use it and what the appearance of the tongue say about their health.
Let’s get started, shall we?
How Do Leopard Geckos Use Their Tongue?
· To Hunt
Thanks to their long, flexible, elastic tongues, geckos can hunt crickets, mealworms, and other insects. The long and flexible muscle fibers that make the tongue enable your pet lizard to elongate it pushing it out of the mouth to capture prey and contract it back in the mouth.
The tongue is also sticky to ensure that your little buddy’s favorite meal doesn’t slip out. That’s not all; every attack is almost a sure win as the tongue moves at high speed.
What’s more, the tongue secretes mucous when the leopard gecko makes contact with its prey hence its strong grabbing power. The insects cant slip out of the sticky, olfactory organ.
Your leopard gecko won’t always use his tongue to grab prey. Sometimes, your little reptile friend will simply snap his mouth at his intended prey and catch it in his jaws.
· To Taste
A Leopard gecko has a vomeronasal organ located on the roof of its mouth. The organ is also referred to as Jacobson’s organ and plays a fundamental role in brain communication. Filled with nerve cells, Jacobson’s organ functions by receiving signals and sending them to the brain for interpretation.
To stay conscious of his surroundings, your leopard gecko will extend his tongue and ‘taste’ his environment, much like flicking its tongue as snakes do. But their tongues are not menacing and as fast as snakes’- they’re somewhat stubby.
But how does a leopard geckos notice its prey or potential mate within its vicinity?
Your little pet tastes his surrounding by capturing the particles with its tongue. These particles are then transmitted to Jacobson’s organ for collection and interpretation in the brain, telling your lizard that there’s a potential mate or prey.
Generally, your gecko tastes to determine which foods are suitable for eating and which are not. Also, leopard geckos would notice a potential breeding partner through the perceiving taste from pheromones released.
· For Grooming
In addition to sensing the environment and capturing prey, leopard geckos use their tongue frequently to groom themselves. Your little guy has a long tongue enough to reach the nose and eyes and clean them out.
Gecko eyes are covered by a brille – a permanent and clear scale protecting the eyes, and because most gecko species don’t have eyelids, their long tongue helps clean the brille.
But that doesn’t mean gecko species with eyelids do not use their tongue, as they also need it to remove debris and small particles in their eyes.
· To smell
As a leopard gecko owner, you may notice your pet licking the air, a behavior that adds to their charm. But their adorable tongue is not only suited to taste. So, do leopard geckos smell with their tongue?
Yes. Leopard geckos’ tongues provide them with a very keen sense of smell. Through Jacobson’s organ, leos can detect smells just like other lizards use their small olfactory organ to smell their environment.
Essentially, your little buddy can pick on the faintest of scents. He can even detect his colleagues by scent alone, as well as identify potential mates.
Also, with their keen sense of smell, geckos determine which food is safe. And if your pet lizard smells something it perceives to be poisonous, he will avoid it at all costs.
What’s more, their keen sense of smell enables them to avoid being predated upon. So, your little guy’s tongue is essential to his safety because he can smell danger from afar.
What Is The Normal Color Of A Leopard Gecko Tongue?
Naturally, leopard geckos’ tongues are pink with red tips. Your pet lizard acquires the red-tipped tongue from the papillae carrying the blood vessels, which are less keratinized than those in the hind and mid-tongue.
So, the tip of the tongue being red is a non-issue unless your little buddy has some injuries on his tongue.
Leopard geckos have red-tipped tongues than the rest of the tongue simply because the skin there is thinner, meaning the blood vessels are more exposed hence the redder tips.
Besides, not all geckos’ tongues have the same color. Some leos have less subdued pink tongues than others.
You’ll also find some leopard geckos with more vanquished red-tipped tongues, while others have more subdued red-tipped tongues. It all depends on the leopard gecko species.
There haven’t been many studies that can succinctly explain the variation in leopard gecko tongue and tongue-tip colors.
But some gecko owners have noticed their pets’ tongue tips typically turning into a more subdued red color after drinking or eating, which makes a lot of sense because geckos move their tongues when feeding allowing for more blood flow in the tip of their tongues.
In addition, some gecko parents have noticed the tip of their little reptile pets turning bright red when they’re excited.
Still, newbie leopard gecko parents become worried over the slightest things about their pets, such as their adorable reptiles having red-tipped tongues, because of the love they have for them.
So, if it’s your first time petting a leopard gecko, make sure the red tongue tip is not your cause for alarm. Continue reading.
Why Is The Tip Of My Leopard Gecko Tongue Red?
Leos use their tongue in daily life to do a bunch of things, from smelling, tasting, eating, and grooming, so you’re bound to see your little buddy’s tongue and notice its color sooner or later.
But it’s normal for leopard geckos to have red-tipped tongues, sometimes pinkish. In fact, your leopard gecko tongue is naturally red, so this should be your least concern unless you notice some suspicious signs of mouth rot disease – We’ll discuss mouth rot in geckos later.
We know that leopard geckos’ tongues are red at the tip because they’ve thinner skin lying on top of the blood vessels compared to other parts of the tongue.
However, if the red tip of the tongue is wounded, swollen, bleeding, or has some white spots, it’s a sign of abnormality, which means you’ll need to consult your reptile vet.
But leopard geckos can have a red tongue for several reasons. Continue reading.
Causes Of Red Tongue In Geckos
Though it is totally okay for leos to have red-tipped tongues, not all red tongues are good tongues.
When leopard geckos’ tongue-tip is abnormally more red subdued, bloody, wooden, swollen, or has some visible white spots, consider consulting your reptile vet the soonest you can, as it could be a sign of infection.
Let’s have a look at some scenarios to gain a better insight into what I mean.
· Swollen Red Gecko Tongue
Swollen red tongues in leos are common signs of inflammation or infection. However, don’t jump to a conclusion just yet. Visit a vet to double-check your lizard’s health status.
Normally, leopard gecko tongues are somewhat long but very thin- especially because your reptile pet is a small animal already.
That said, if your little guy’s tongue is becoming noticeably thick and swollen, keep in mind to observe how he behaves keenly.
If you notice your friendly leopard gecko having difficulty eating and becoming lethargic for some time, be sure to contact your exotic vet since your pets’ health may be at stake.
· Red Leopard Gecko Tongue Due To Wounds
Though rare, wounded tongues in leopard geckos are not unheard of. But this happens mostly to geckos that are housed together. As you probably know, leos are territorial, which means they can become aggressive and fight when housed together, leading to tongue wounds.
Generally, you’ll notice cuts, scratches, and lesions on leos red-tipped tongues that are wounded though this rarely happens. You need to call your vet to schedule an appointment soonest possible when you notice any wounds-the wounds may be accompanied by some swellings.
To prevent wounds on red-tipped leopard gecko tongues, look for a way to house your pets separately if you’re cohabiting them in one terrarium. Also, check on objects that may scratch your little buddy’s tongue and remove them, or else he’ll continue getting more injuries.
· White Spots On Red Leopard Gecko Tongue
White spots on your red-tipped tongue leopard gecko could be a sign of gout. For a successful treatment, your little reptile needs urgent care from an experienced exotic pet. Usually, the vet would guide you to reduce the protein diet and advice you to hydrate your lizard as well.
If you happen to notice the white spots on your leopard gecko’s tongue, it is a bad sign that your little friend has gotten into some trouble.
More importantly, this is a serious sign that your gecko is suffering from severe gout, a fatal disease that mostly affects reptiles!
The white spots on the rep-tipped gecko tongue are caused by uric acid crystals forming in your lizard’s mouth, which explains why they seem like cream-colored or white spots.
You may be you’re wondering how your little friend acquired such a fatal disease. Primarily there are two main reasons; dehydration caused by your pet not drinking water and low humidity in the gecko’s tank, and taking too much protein.
Whatever the cause of gout, ensure you contact your exotic pet veterinarian to book an appointment.
However, if your leo is healthy, make sure to keep the humidity levels in his aquarium in the required temperatures to save him from gout disease. Also, don’t offer your lizard too much protein.
Is A Red Tongue A Sign Of Mouth Rot In Geckos
Red tongues in leopard geckos could be a sign of inflammation, but for the mouth rot, the whole mouth could be generally affected. Besides, you’ll generally notice a red-purple to black color because of the discoloration triggered by dead oral tissues.
Aside from the dead tissue that is clearly visible in the gecko’s mouth, other signs of mouth rot-also known as stomatitis, include pus discharge from the nose and mouth, loss of appetite, and inactivity.
But don’t get awry or discouraged to pet a leopard gecko, as other reptiles, such as turtles, lizards, and the snake, can suffer the same fate.
As a precaution, should you suspect, the red color on the tongue tip may be a sign of mouth rot, promptly schedule to visit your reptile vet for a check-up. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your little friend has a solution to his health complications.
Frequently Asked Questions-FAQs
Do Leos Smell with their Tongue?
Yes. Leos smell with their tongues. Thanks to the Jacobson’s organ, geckos can detect the faintest of smells. With this, they can notice potential mates, sense potential danger to avoid being predated upon, and choose the right foods to eat.
In general, they use the small olfactory organ to smell their environment for their day-to-day activities and for their survival.
Do Leos Have Taste Buds?
Absolutely. Leopard geckos have papillae on their tongues-tiny bumps, most of which contain taste buds. You might actually be surprised to find out that leos have more taste buds than us.
Through their numerous taste buds, leopard geckos can easily find potential mates, avoid predators and identify food.
Could The Red Tongue In Leos Result From Eating Insects Due To Bug Blood?
No. Insects’ blood, called hemolymph, is typically transparent with hints of yellow or green, so your leopard gecko tongue won’t turn red because of feasting on insects.
However, insects could release liquids that are dark red-brown in color. The red-like color is from their eye pigments that possibly smashed out after being crushed when your pet is preying on insects. So, your gecko’s tongue tip is not red because of bug blood.
Can Live Insects Bite On My Leopard Gecko And Cause His Tongue-Tip Turn Red?
No. Despite some pet parents sharing worries about live insects biting on their leopard gecko’s tongues during feeding and causing the tip of the tongue to turn red, it’s highly unlikely.
Leos are generally smart, adorable lizards. I can bet they would know if they should prey on the insect in front of them. If your little reptile friend realizes that his prey is too dangerous for him, he’ll definitely avoid it.
Is It Normal For A Leopard Geckos Tongue To Turn White?
No. Healthy leopard geckos have red-tipped tongues and the rest of the tongue pink.
Overall coloration and pale color is a sign of various diseases. If your leopard gecko displays other abnormal behavior and signs, such as refusal to eat and decreased energy, in addition to the tip of the tongue turning white, he’s probably sick. So, promptly contact your reptile vet for a go-ahead.
What Is The Normal Color Of The Tongue Tip In Leopard Geckos?
Well, it depends on the gecko species. Some beautiful geckos, especially those native to New Zealand, have black, blue, grey, and orange tongues. But most leos have red-tipped pink tongues.
They get their red color at the tip of their tongue because of the less keratinized blood vessels on the gecko papillae. The rest of the tongue is pink because the blood vessels in the mid and hind tongues are more keratinized.
Is A Red-Tipped Tongue A Sign Of Mouth Rot In Leos?
No. A red-tipped tongue could be a sign that your little buddy has inflammation, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that your gecko could be suffering from mouth rot.
For mouth rot, you must be able to spot signs such as the whole mouth being affected or notice some black or red-purple color. Besides, the jaws and teeth are most likely to be affected, not the tongue.
Conclusion
The Leopard gecko’s tongue is one of its most important organs. Your little buddy depends on his tongue to groom himself, smell his surroundings, taste, and eat.
Also, because his limbs are generally shorter, he’ll use his tongue to scratch his eyes or remove any particles. For that reason, as a gecko parent, you may be concerned about their red-tipped tongue.
But these are the slightest of things to worry about. Generally, leos have predominantly light to deep red tongue tips, with the rest of the tongue being pink.
However, if your little guy’s tongue is red-tipped with cream and white spots, bleeding, injured, or swollen, you must visit your exotic reptile vet. Otherwise, you may risk losing your little friend.