# Hatchlings (under 3 g)

_Permalink: https://geckinspect.com/CareGuide/hatchling-care_

Hatchlings are the most fragile life stage. They are small, easily lost in large enclosures, and prone to dehydration. Most keeper-inflicted losses happen in the first 6 weeks after hatch.

- Enclosure: 6-quart tub or small critter keeper with paper towel, a small branch, and a handful of fake leaves or sphagnum.
- First meal: offer CGD about 48 hours after hatching, once the yolk is absorbed. Some hatchlings do not eat for the first 3 to 5 days, that is normal if they are holding weight.
- Humidity: mist 1 to 2 times daily. Let the sides of the tub dry between mists.
- Do not handle. Observe only for the first month.
- Weigh weekly. Expect about 0.5 to 1.5 g a month. A hatchling that drops below hatching weight for more than a week needs attention.

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