10 Things to Do the Day You Bring Your Gecko Home

Set up the tank before the gecko arrives. Habitat, heat, and hides should all be ready and tested a day or two ahead of time.
Check your temperatures first. Confirm the warm and cool sides are both in range before your gecko ever goes in.
Skip the handling on day one. Let your gecko settle into their new space for a few days before any handling begins.
Offer water right away. A shallow water dish should be available and easy to find from the very first hour.
Give them hiding options. Make sure a hide is available on both the warm and cool sides immediately.
Wait a day before the first meal. Let your gecko settle in before offering food — a stressed gecko often won't eat anyway.
Keep the room calm. Avoid loud noise or a busy room near the tank for the first few days.
Watch, don't disturb. Observe from a distance rather than tapping the glass or moving things around.
Note their coloring and behavior. A baseline for 'normal' helps you catch changes later.
Find an exotics-experienced vet. Not all vets treat reptiles — line one up before you need one.

More Gecko Care guides