Mourning Gecko

Scientific Name: Lepidodactylus lugubris

Native Habitat: South Pacific Islands, Central and South America, and Hawaii

Lifespan: 8-10 years

Size: up to 4" in length

Temperament: Shy, nervous, flighty

Ease of handling: They are tiny, very fast, and quite delicate.
Skill level: Beginner - Intermediate

Activity level: Cathemeral (active at irregular intervals both during day and night)

A 12x12x18" enclosure can comfortably house a few adults, they are a communal species. Mourning geckos are arboreal, so the enclosure should prioritize vertical space over ground space.

Temperature: Basking spot should be around 27°C, with the cool end between 21-24°C.

Lighting: UVB is necessary for healthy mourning geckos.

Humidity: 60-70% with frequent misting. Mourning geckos drink water droplets from misting and will not drink from a bowl.

Substrate: Bioactive soil, coconut husk, coconut fiber.

Plants, corkbark, brances, vines, and rocks should be provided to offer plenty of hiding places and room to explore. Bioactive enclosures are great for this species.

Fresh powdered gecko food such as Pangea or Repashy should be provided. They will also eat flightless fruit flies, small crickets, rice flour beetles, small black soldier fly larvae, and bean beetles.