trans fluid level started..
If you had the pan off the fluid on the stick will go down until all the air is purged out, how far it goes down depends on how much fluid you put in it.
Then as it heats up it will rise approx 3/8"
If it was rebuilt or the valve body removed the fluid level will go down a lot, maybe to the point of adding more, then it can get confusing because you have cold fluid stuck to the wall of the dipstick tube and when you go to check it the stick wipes that off which will give a false reading.
If you start the car and drive it 5 miles the fluid level will be higher than if you start the car and let it run 5 minutes.






