questions, new crested gecko owner

[calcdoeus]

So I got my first crested gecko on Saturday. It’s a 1 year old male and I got him from a rescue place. He wasn’t mistreated by his previous owners or anything he was just given up to them. They assured me of its health and had me sign adoption papers and everything. He does seem very healthy, he weighs 31 grams. I just have a few questions and want to hear people’s opinions about some stuff.

1.) my humidity in the day time never drops below 55% so do I not have to mist in the morning like most people do? I misted lightly this morning and it got to almost 80 which seems too high for daytime humidity. I don’t want to cause him respiratory issues. I also don't want him to get dehydrated though so that's why I decided to mist very very lightly but again it spiked the humidity too high I think. Thoughts on this?

2.) I know most people always say wait 1-2 weeks sometimes a month even to let your new crested settle in but I’ve also heard of a lot of people having issues with theirs being very very flighty after they waited a week or two to handle their gecko. I decided to take mine out last night (gave him a full day to adjust). He did try to run away when I first tried to grab him but I think I might have woken him up so that’s why he was so alarmed. Once he was out he was completely fine. Didn’t keep trying to jump and run away. Didn’t show stress signs like gaping his mouth, moving his tail or making noises or anything. He would only jump if you put something in front of him to jump to. If he had the chance he would always climb up to my shoulder and he would just chill there. I hand fed him too because he didn’t eat his first night. I know not to do this often so that he doesn’t get used to it. I feel like waiting too long actually causes them to get used to not being handled. What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

3.) Like I said he doesn’t seem to have eaten in his enclosure but he had a few licks of the Pangea I offered him when I took him out. I don’t think it was a full meal for him because it was only a few licks. How much do adult crested geckos usually eat? Will they ever empty out a half filled 1.5 oz cup or do they actually just not eat that much?

4.) How common is it for new crested geckos to not eat for a while when they first come home to a new place? When should I start getting concerned?

5.) I keep his enclosure in my bedroom and I stay up pretty late at night (2 am). Do I need to keep my lights off at night even when I'm still awake (6 pm - 2 am) so as to provide him natural complete darkness or is it okay to have lights on until I go to bed?

 

[ReptiFiles]

1) 55% is the "dry" part of the humidity range for crested geckos. Technically their humidity should fluctuate between 60-80% daily. 80% or higher after misting, and allowed to dry down to 55-60% before misting again. Keep an eye on the daily pattern of humidity fluctuation after misting at night (enough for droplets to form on leaves and glass), and if needed, mist again in the morning.

2) Crested geckos, like other animals, suffer from relocation stress after being moved to a new home. They must be given adequate time to settle in and become secure in their new environment, or else the stress can negatively affect their health, as well as their future relationship with you. Handling too soon can firmly establish you as a "predator" in their mind. While crested geckos may regress somewhat after being left alone for a while, 2 weeks is not long enough for them to revert to a "wild" state. (https://www.reptifiles.com/crested-gecko-care/crested-gecko-handling/) Although 2 weeks is only a number — the true amount of time you will need to wait before handling your crestie depends on its eating habits. (See #4)

3) An adult crested gecko will usually eat enough to make a significant dent in their food every other night. Some eat more, some less. Based on the age and weight of your gecko, it sounds like he doesn't have a tendency to pig out, which is good. If you aren't doing this already, make sure you are feeding him the same gecko diet that he was eating at the shelter (provided that they were offering a quality diet like Pangea or Repashy).

4) Eating habits are one of the most reliable indicators of a crested gecko's stress levels. The less stressed, the more they eat. The period of time required for a gecko to get to the point of eating regularly varies from individual to individual. Some settle in and start eating regularly after a week. For others, it can take up to 3-4 weeks.

5) If you tend to stay up late, it would be a good idea to invest in a light specifically for the gecko's terrarium, placed on a timer. The bright, direct light will simulate daylight, so when it turns off, the gecko will know to wake up even if your room light is on, as the room light is probably dimmer than the gecko's light. You can also throw a thin blanket over the terrarium until you go to sleep, or turn off your room light and operate with a desk lamp or similar. The idea is to simulate a 12/12 day/night cycle which will help regulate the gecko's natural rhythm.

 

[Yoshi'smom]

1: I occasionally don't mist in the morning as well so let them dry out a bit more before I mist at night. sometimes you just have to do what works best for your enclosure. Do you provide a dish of water?
2: I usually recommend a week of no handling for the gecko to adjust to his new surroundings. Chances are that with an older gecko, he's already associated people with gentle handling. So you should be ok if you just wait a bit longer.
3: Sometimes they can take weeks to adjust and not eat. I had one go a little over 4 weeks without food after arrival. Another reason that he may not eat is that he may not feel secure. Make sure there is lots of clutter and climbing spaces in his enclosure. You'll learn after the first few months of how much he will eat in one sitting. Some eat more than others.
4: Addressed a bit above. I wouldn't worry just yet.
5: You do want to provide a normal daylight schedule. A few hours off won't hurt him but I wouldn't make it a regular habit. As soon as it starts to get dark all my geckos come out to start their night time excursions. I try to mess with their natural cycle as little as possible.
Otherwise, Welcome to the forums! We're glad to have you!
Share some photos of your kiddo when you get the chance.