Description

Hawaiian Mourning Gecko Care Guide

Mourning geckos, also known as Lepidodactylus lugubris, are small lizards native to the tropical regions of central and south America. More specifically the Pacific islands, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, and Indian Oceans. They are named for their distinctive mourning call, which they use to communicate with one another. These geckos are typically about 3-5 inches in length and have slender, elongated bodies with translucent skin. They are small size animals but make some of the best pets! They often vary in coloration depending on their locality. This animal is light tan, dark brown, or white with black dots if they are from Hawaii. Proper care and adults and babies whose eggs hatch recently will vary in colors.

Mourning geckos are primarily insectivorous, meaning that they feed on insects. In the wild, they will eat a variety of small insects, including pinhead crickets, flies, and moths. In captivity, they can be fed a diet of crickets, mealworms, and fruit flies, supplemented with the occasional fruit or vegetable. Providing them with a balanced diet is important to ensure their overall health and well-being.

When it comes to caring for mourning geckos, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, they require a consistent temperature of around 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a basking spot that reaches around 90 degrees. They also need high humidity levels, so it is important to provide them with a humid hide or mist the enclosure regularly. In terms of housing, a 10-gallon tank is typically sufficient for a pair of mourning geckos. It should be equipped with plenty of hiding places, such as live plants, branches, and caves, as well as a shallow water dish for drinking and soaking.

Mourning geckos are generally easy to care for and make for a great first pet for those interested in keeping reptiles. One of the best parts of these little geckos is they are parthenogenetic species, meaning they use asexual reproduction to produce offspring once they have reached sexual maturity. This species of geckos is strictly all female and it is extremely rare to hatch one of these reptiles as a male in captivity. One of these adult geckos can produce eggs by itself but if you intend to get offspring from them it is incredibly important to keep them in small groups of two geckos or more. They are relatively low maintenance and do not require as much space or specialized equipment as some other reptiles. They are also relatively easy to breed, so those interested in breeding reptiles may find them to be a good option.

Mourning Gecko lepidodactylus lugubris Habbitat

Housing mourning geckos even juvenile geckos if fairly simple compared to other species or most geckos. We recommend housing these captive bred geckos in a terrarium with lots of insects, live plants, cork branches, plant leaves, feeder insects, standing water, and a temperature gradient. Their diet consists of fruit flies, feeder insects, pinhead crickets, and Pangea food!