Mourning Gecko Care Guide

Species Info: Mourning geckos are a curious little species that can be found on many tropical and subtropical islands in the Indian ocean. They have also been established in places like Hawaii and Central/South America. This species gets its name from the almost total lack of males seen in the wild. Native peoples interpreted the females’ nightly vocalizations as lamenting the loss of their male mates. In reality, mourning geckos are parthenogenic, meaning the species reproducing via the females fertilizing their own eggs and giving birth to babies with  50-100% of mom’s DNA (closer to 100% for completely parthenogenic species like this one). Due to the lack of males, females engage in “pseudocopulation”, in which they mount each other to stimulate the release of reproductive hormones.

Level of Care/Handling: Easy. A well-established and heavily planted vivarium combined with a steady supply of food are all that mourning geckos need to thrive. Handling is best done only when absolutely necessary. Being on the small end of the gecko spectrum, mournings are naturally very skittish and should not be expected to ever truly acclimate to handling. Like most geckos, they can readily drop and regenerate their tails.

Length/Lifespan: Adult mourning geckos are generally 3.5-4 in. in total length. With proper husbandry they usually live 10-15 years. However, being parthenogenic, you can expect your enclosure to be near constantly filled with geckos for as long as it continues to be maintained.     

Temperature/Lighting/Space Requirements: Mourning geckos are best kept at room temperature; between 65-75 degrees. As nocturnal animals, they do not require UV light, but may benefit from it regardless. Lighting that will most likely necessary are LED or fluorescent grow lights for live plants (as vivariums make the best captive habitats for this species). These geckos are best kept in communal enclosures in groups of 3 or more. A 12x12x12 glass terrarium is suitable for 5-6 geckos, but any more will require something larger, like a 12x12x18 or more. 

*It is generally frowned upon to have multiple species the same enclosure (unless in a zoo/aquarium with multiple veterinarians on staff), however many hobbyists have cohabitated primarily ground-dwelling dart frog species like Dendrobates tinctorius or Phyllobates vittatus and mourning geckos with success.                         

Humidity/Water Requirements: Humidity is best kept between 60-80%, spiking up to 90% once or twice a day. Water bowls are not necessary as long as the enclosure is misted in the morning and evening. Your geckos will get the moisture they need from their food and lapping water off enclosure surfaces.

Tank Flooring: Organic topsoil with no pesticides or inorganic fertilizers (none at all if also keeping dart frogs) is best for creating a long-lasting vivarium setup. Because of the high humidity requirements, a 0.5-1 in. drainage layer separated by a mesh screen is also recommended.

Tank Decoration: Natural decorations like cork bark and live plants make humidity retention much easier, and items like magnetic rock ledges make for good climbing surfaces as well. If your enclosure has a screen top, it is recommended to cover at least half with saran wrap or something similar to seal in humidity.

Diet: Mourning geckos are omnivores, eating mainly fruit and insects in the wild. Supplement-dusted and gut-loaded fruit flies, pinhead-0.25 in. crickets, and extra small dubia roaches all make suitable feeders, but the roaches will often burrow and hide before they can be consumed, especially in vivariums. Fruit can be supplied using Pangea and Repashy crested gecko diets. 

Feeding Frequency: Fruit should always be made available, and is easily done by offering the premade Pangea or Repashy diet and changing it out every 2-3 days or when it becomes crusty and gross. Insects can be offered 2-3 times a week, between 20-25 insects (or 10-15 dubias/0.25 in. crickets) per gecko. This may seem like a lot the very small size of the insects means that much more need to be consumed. 

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