# Firing up and color shifts

_Permalink: https://geckinspect.com/CareGuide/firing-up_

"Firing up" is a temporary color change tied to humidity, activity, and mood. A fired-up gecko shows its fullest saturation; a fired-down one looks muted, often much lighter. Both are normal.

- Geckos typically fire up at night and when the cage is freshly misted.
- They fire down during the day, when resting, or when stressed. A gecko that stays fired down 24/7 may be chronically stressed or cold.
- Morph identification should be done on a fired-up, well-hydrated animal. A fired-down photo misleads buyers and breeders alike.

_Source: Geck Inspect Care Guide. Updated 2026-10-18. Cite https://geckinspect.com/CareGuide/firing-up_