Description:

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Lepidodactylus lugubris - commonly known as the mourning gecko or smooth scaled gecko are one of the most widely distributed lizard in the natural world. They are commonly found throughout Asia and South America, with reports of them being found on every continent and even island regions such as Papua New Guinea and Hawaii.

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A unusual characteristic of the mourning gecko is it's ability to reproduce through a process called parthenogenesis. This means that mourning geckos reproduce asexually - essentially making all mourning geckos in existence female. When a mourning gecko lays eggs, they emerge fully fertilized and are hatched without the need for insemination or the passing of any genetic material from another mourning gecko other than its mother. Based on this knowledge, it is not unreasonable to say that all mourning geckos spread through our planet are essentially clones of one another, making them a fascinating and unique animal. 

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Bear in mind that by default, to own a mourning gecko means to be a mourning gecko breeder. Your population will not explode over night, but owning one comes with the commitment of offspring being an inevitable eventuality. This ease of care and reproduction also sometimes makes them a popular choice for breeding as feeder lizards for people who own larger reptiles.

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Size:

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Adult mourning geckos are fairly tiny compared to your average pet lizard. At their full size they will typically reach a maximum of 4 inches in length (10 centimeters).

 

When newly hatched they will measure less than an inch in length, making them quite small and fragile. 

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New born Mourning geckos should also be separated from their mother until they have had some time to grow in size. At this point in time she or others in the group may cannibalize these hatchlings if they feel their survival depends on it.

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At this size, they are also small enough to escape through points of ventilation that a large mourning gecko would not. A small finely meshed screen topped enclosure is recommended for a mourning gecko of this size.

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For some, their small size, and the ease of care that comes with it adds to their allure as easily kept pets. These make a great desk pet, or provide enjoyment for someone wishing to dabble in reptile keeping, but while having limited space.

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Temperament:

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The cuteness of the mourning gecko is undeniable. However, with any animal of this size special consideration should be given to the fragility that comes with that size. These lizards are aware of their stature, and in the wild are easy prey items for just about anything carnivorous.  They prefer not to be handled, and their speed and ability to jump is easy to underestimate until they are startled. They can easily be injured while trying to recapture one that has become loose through mishandling.

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Their instinct will not be to bite a human being unless severely provoked, as they know this action would only serve to endanger them, but they will readily drop their tails if they are snagged by it. Though it will regrow in time, it will likely not look the same as its original, and this process is always very stressful for a lizard.

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Because of these facts, I recommend minimal handling. They may learn in time to show more trust in their owners, but this will only ever be tolerance. They prefer to be left to their own devices whenever possible, and as such they are probably not well suited as a pet for small children either.

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Housing:

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These lizards are social and do well when kept together. Reportedly they breed more readily when kept in groups and generally seem to enjoy a better quality of life this way.

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Mourning geckos, being so small, do not require a large space. They can easily be kept in an enclosure as small as 5 gallons, but a 10 gallons or slightly larger can be utilized for a group of them (known as a Lounge).

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Whatever size enclosure you choose for your Mourning geckos, be conscientious of its design. These animals are widely regarded as escape artists, which will make use of any opportunity to free themselves that they are given.

 

Mourning geckos do very well in a planted vivarium. Their simple care, need for humidity and the small amount of mess they create makes this the ideal habitat for them in my opinion. This also has the added benefit of giving them many hiding and basking spots  and also places in which to nest their eggs.

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Temperature and Humidity:

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The ideal temperature requirement for the Mourning gecko is 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Because this falls into the range of average room temperature, it is not always necessary to provide them with any extra source of heat, If you do however, live in an unusually cold climate heating may be necessary .My recommendation for achieving this  is a very lower powered basking bulb.

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Mourning geckos need a relatively high level of humidity that can be allowed to fluctuate throughout the day. Aim to keep in no lower than 60%, with highs of 80% or above. Doing so will require at least one daily misting - potentially more depending on the current saturation level of your substrate.

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Please ensure that you are always maintaining the above parameters with an appropriate gauge of heat and humidity. It is never enough to assume that a comfortable room temperature for you, will be sufficient or suitable for a reptile.

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Lighting:

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Mourning geckos should technically be given a source of UVB light. They do enjoy basking and this will ultimately keep them healthy and ensure they reproduce with better frequency. Sunlight can be helpful, but this comes with the unwanted effect of increased heat, which can dangerous to your geckos. These animals do not do well in prolonged, extreme heat. Constant exposure to heat above the previously stated guidelines can be ultimately be fatal.

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However you choose to light you Mourning geckos habitat, be sure you are providing them with a proper 12 hour lighting cycle. These animals are actually cathemeral, meaning they are active both during day light hours as well as nighttime, but this night and day cycle is still a normal and necessary part of life for most living creatures.

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Substrate:

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I personally use a combination of potting soil and coco-fiber in my planted Mourning gecko vivarium, but either or others are acceptable if going with a non planted setup.

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The choice of substrate is not overly important, as long as it holds humidity well. Mourning geckos do not spend the majority of their time on the ground. They prefer to climb, and bask on branches, vines and the leaves of plants.

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Diet:

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Although mourning geckos are omnivorous, and will eat a wide variety of plant and insects in the wild, they can survive perfectly well given a diet of Repashy and small feeder insect when kept in captivity.

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Small sized, occasionally mineral dusted crickets will be readily accepted by larger larger mourning geckos, but much smaller feeders like fruit flies will need to be given to any newly hatched geckos.

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Provide your geckos with sources of water. They will likely hydrate themselves with the water deposited through daily misting, but should also still be given a small and consistent source of drinking water.

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Lifespan:

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Given the right care and conditions, Mourning geckos will live for an average of 10 years. However, they have been sporadically reported to live as long as 15 years of age.

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