I've noticed that a lot of commonly kept gecko species are nocturnal. While that would definitely save on UVB costs, does this take away from daytime viewing and interaction? Are they inactive during the day?

That depends on the gecko and the species. I have several Leopard geckos that are active the moment they hear me in the room. They start wandering around and watching me. Some of the others don't leave their hides until it is light s out.

My crested gecko hides all day and is active only at night unless I wake him by opening his tank to change the water, his cgd, or add crickets.

__________________

Mine (crestie) does usually sleep the day away, but if I were to take him out during the day, he wakes up and explores just like he does at night.

If you put your light on a 12 on/12 off rotation starting at 7 then that would generally give you time in the evening when it is first waking up and moving around. Which works perfect for me when I'm working, I work a 12 hour shift which sometimes turns into 14 or 16, so if my gecko was only awake during the day, I would never get to see him.

Most people work at least 8 hours during the day, that means that they would have more time to spend with their critters in the evening. For daytime critters this just means they see us right before bed, for nocturnal, it's right as they wake up...

Oh and it is SOOO cute getting to see him hiding in his sleeping spot behind the thermometer!

__________________

Aww, what a cutie. I can see where a later in the day critter would work better for you, and a lot of people.

I've heard a lot of conflicting things about baby food, and the prepared crested gecko diets. Is it possible to have a healthy diet of fruit baby food, or is this a bad idea?

Most baby food has a lot of sugar in it. The nice thing about the Crested Gecko Diet is that it has everything the Crested Geckos need. Calcium and all. This thread from when I was doing research should answer many of your food questions. Diet Research

__________________

Baby food is no good. It is great as a treat and when you simply have run out of the correct food. It should never be used as a staple. The CGD food by T-Rex/Repashy is some great stuff. I order mine online in a big bag and it lasts for a long time! I also offer crickets and mealies to my crestie.

__________________

It depends on the type of reptile/gecko. It also depends on the gecko itself because some will move around in the daytime and others will just hide.
I have leopard geckos here and I have 2 out of my group that will be out during the day. I do not have a UVB on them but I go ahead and put a UVA on the breeder tank, even if I don't really need it just to give extra to the 2 that stay out.

I don't have crested geckos so maybe someone else can help you on that.

__________________
~I breed: Leopard geckos, Bearded dragons, Zebra Finches, Mice~

My Reps:
0.1 Red tail boa
1.0 Ball python
2.4 Leopard geckos
1.0 Milk snake
1.2 Bearded Dragon

Do cresteds just not require as much live food as other geckos?

Repashy claims they don't require any feeder insects as part of their diet if they are being fed the CGD. I still feed insects in addition to the CGD a few times a week.

__________________

Do you still dust those feeders, or does the CGD make it unnecessary?