How am I supposed to know what's normal?

I don't know if he's eating or if I'm doing things right so I'm going to tell what my gecko is like and if anything sounds off please tell me! Thanks. Here we go ...

He (unsexed actually) is about the length of my finger not counting the tail. I've had him two weeks and two days. I think he's 3 or 4 months old but I'm really guessing there.

In that time I've rarely seen him barely eat, most often because I put some CGD right in front of his nose. I've given him mashed fruit mixed with CGD and CGD with juice instead of water, trying to make sure he ate, then cut that out because I know that should only be a treat but I think he did eat more of that. I say I think he ate it because I find a little mess on the ledge as if he walked through it. I don't see licking spots on the CGD. I tried putting some on the ground, making different consistencies, etc etc.

I've never seen poo but I assume it's little and would blend with the dirt and sphagnum moss I have in there.

He's really skittish and jumpy when I have to handle him. I try not to because I'm afraid to stress him out and actually, I'm wondering if anyone knows if it's better not to try to tame them when they are so small. Too fragile maybe?He launches himself around and once hit the glass on the cage and fell to the ground. Freaked me out. I've only handled him three times. If anybody has experience in taming please comment!

He spends 80% of his time on top of a branch I have in there near the heat (not light) and out in the open. When I spray the cage he might go put his head behind a leaf. He does drink water readily.

The temperature in there is around 73F at top and 68F at bottom approx. I have the heat bulb (ceramic heat, not light) on a dimmer so I can control that.

I have living plants in the terrarium. It's 12x12x18. I hope that's not too big but he easily finds his way back to his favorite spot after being on the ground etc so I'm not really worried he gets lost in there.

I spray twice a day with distilled water because I don't want water spots all over the glass and the humidity goes from 50 to 70 every twelve hours. There are springtails and I've seen them taking care of mold on the base of the stick. Never seen mold or the springtails come out anywhere else.

He has always looked grey when he's not fired up which makes me think he will shed but I'm positive he hasn't. I think it's just his natural color.

If you have read all this and comment thank you very much!

In my opinion, it's normal. I have 3 cresties, 1 of which is still a juvie, 7 gargs (including 3 hatchlings) and 1 leachie. I've had nearly all of them since they were juvies. The juvies and the adults sometimes go weeks without my seeing that any CGD has been eaten. I also have planted tanks so it's hard to see the poop. I feel you should keep offering and, as long as the gecko is healthy and active, not worry about it. If you aren't doing this already, young cresties (as well as adults) benefit from occasional crickets. I feed CGD 3 times a week and crickets twice a week (most weeks).
One of my cresties I got at 10 months when she weighed only 10 grams. She was very skittish and squirmy when I tried to hold her, though I did hold her every week or so for brief periods. Now, at over 20 grams and about 14 months, she is much more interested in her surroundings when held and will sit on my hand and look around. I just got a new crestie that's only 2 months old and it is now also pretty skittish, though I do handle her regularly for brief periods.

Aliza

All normal. I agree with Aliza on everything but the crickets. Make sure he is eating CGD regularly befoRe giving crickets. Part of the problem might be that he is holding out on the CGD in hopes you will cave in and feed crickets. Don't give in...tough love ya know. I think you could get your humidity up to 80 at night that would be better and then let it drop to around 50-60.


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