Day/Night Light Issues and Nocturnal Behavior

[transcend11]

I just received my first leopard gecko yesterday and I have a question about their nocturnal habits.

The gecko is being kept in my bedroom, which has a window for the sun to come in during the day, but it doesn't get too much light. I usually have my ceiling light on regularly unless it's a bright sunny day... and so this light is usually on until at least 1 or 2 AM every night when I go to bed.

So, my gecko is most likely perceiving my light as the sun, as I'm sure it can't distinguish between natural and artificial light? If so, by having my light on so late regularly:

1) Am I messing up her sleep cycle by giving her a short night?

2) Am I ever even going to see my gecko if it's always "daylight" in my room?

I know she's still brand new to her new home and still getting acclimated, but she never really came out of her hides until I went to bed and it was dark in my room. Is this how it will always be, or will she start to become active during nighttime regardless of light?

Thanks for any advice

 

[rcobourn]

I've been encouraging my son, who has some leos in his room, to use a reading light on his bed instead of the overhead light... this seems to convince the leos it is time to come out and play. Still, he mostly sees them by the night bulb we provided for them, after he turns out his reading light.

 

[transcend11]

I've read that over time geckos can even "convert" to being more active during the daytime. I guess this is sort of what I am looking for, if she is going to hide whenever my light is on. If this is possible, and maybe necessary in my situation if I ever want to actually see her, how do I go about inducing this change?

 

[nats]

Your overhead will fool your leo into thinking it's daytime, hence, the hidding.

Once they get acclimated, they will come out and roam around if it isnt too bright.

 

[Rhian]

I've read that over time geckos can even "convert" to being more active during the daytime. I guess this is sort of what I am looking for, if she is going to hide whenever my light is on. If this is possible, and maybe necessary in my situation if I ever want to actually see her, how do I go about inducing this change?

When we first got our geckos home, they used to come out very late at night once the lights had been off for a while. But now, they come out around 6ish in the evening and stay out all evening.. or whenever someone is in the computer room as they are proper attention seekers! Ours seem to enjoy coming out now they have got used to us