Yellow-Bellied Mourning Gecko Care Sheet
At BHB Reptiles we are currently producing Yellow-Bellied Mourning Geckos. This variety of Mourning Geckos differs from other Mourning Geckos because of their distinct yellow belly and black pigments that run throughout their back.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Mourning geckos do not need a male to breed? That’s right! Mourning geckos can have babies without a male due to a process called Parthenogenesis. The babies are a genetically identical copy of their mothers. Two females house together can stimulate each other by pseudocopulation and the females can both become gravid. Though extremely rare, males do exist. There is no need to have two females for babies. Your female can become gravid on their own and lay fertile eggs.
SIMPLIFIED YELLOW-BELLIED MOURNING GECKO Care Sheet - BHB Reptiles
Scientific Name: Lepidodactylus lugubris
Native Habitat: Mourning Geckos are found throughout Southeast Asia, South America, and Hawaii. Yellow-bellied Mourning Geckos are believed to be native to Fiji.
Lifespan: With proper care, they can live up to 10 years in captivity, but possibly even longer.
Handling: These geckos are not great for handling since they are quick, but they can be very entertaining to watch If you have more than one. In the evening, they will often interact with each other, and you can even hear them chirping at each other and even protecting their eggs.
Size: Mourning Geckos will normally reach 4 inches in total length and Yellow-Bellied Mourning Geckos are known to get around 3/4 inches longer.
Enclosure: As a baby, you would want to focus on making your gecko feel secure. I know it can be tempting or more convenient to house your baby gecko in a larger home, but try not to. Babies can become stressed easily if their space is too large. We would suggest a 5-gallon tall terrarium. Watch out! These geckos can be escaped artists, so please make sure that your enclosure is secure.
For a sub-adult to adult gecko, we would suggest a 12x12x12.
Plants: Mourning geckos love to have plenty of places to climb and hide. Adding plenty of foliage whether fake or real is an part of keeping your gecko happy and healthy. Ideas for safe plants are Pothos and Philodendrons. Also, please make sure to have plenty of leaf litter as they enjoy hiding under it.
Substrate: For babies use paper towel for the substrate. It is easy to tell if your baby is passing their food regularly, easy to clean, and affordable to replace.
Now, for sub-adults and adults, you could still use paper, but you may struggle to keep the humidity correct, and to be honest it is not that pretty. Switching over to a substrate that helps to hold humidity and release it slowly over the day will make husbandry that much easier.
Our sister company ReptilePrime.com (the regular, not fine bag) is what we use and suggest. It is a 100% organic coconut substrate that is perfect for any humidity-loving species of reptile. The substrate is also available on Amazon Prime. Canadian customers are not able to buy thru the website, but they can buy thru Amazon Prime. Other great alternatives are any coconut fiber substrate or even ABG mix.
Hides: Include plenty of leaf litter on the ground and also provide hides. Also, include foliage and branches throughout enclosure. They will make use of all of their space.
Humidity: Mourning geckos need their humidity between 60-80%. Mist your enclosure daily as these geckos will drink the water droplets on the sides of the enclosure and foliage. Make sure to let your enclosure completely dry between misting to avoid bacteria growth.
Hygrometer: A hygrometer is a very inexpensive piece of equipment that allows you to measure the humidity in your reptile's enclosure.
Temperature: Between 73-80°F.
Heating Source: No direct heating source is required, but do make sure that you can maintain the temperatures listed above. If your home is colder than 73°F you may need to move your gecko into a warmer room or buy a low-wattage heat bulb such as the Daylight Blue™ or Nightlight Red™ from Zoo Med or a similar product from another brand is a great choice for providing heat.
Do not use heat rocks in your enclosure as your gecko could get burned and overheat.
Thermometer: To make sure that your temperatures are correct in your gecko’s enclosure, buy a thermometer. You can also buy a Digital Infrared thermometer that reads the temperature instantly.
Feeding: We feed our Mourning geckos Fruit flies or pinhead crickets. Also, you can feed them Gecko Complete Diet or a Fruit-only diet, but with live insects. Make sure the insects are no larger than the width between their eyes.
Powder Supplements: Osteo-form SA & Vionate Powder. Use a 1 part Osteo-Form SA to either 3 parts Vionate. Some keepers do a 1:4 ratio instead. Dust on any insects that you are feeding your gecko and offer a tiny dish of powder in the enclosure for them.
Water Dish: Water is very important for your Mourning gecko and a small water dish should be in their enclosure at all times.
**Make sure to NOT use distilled water for your reptile. If you do not know if your tap water is safe, we would suggest using bottled water like spring water. Also, you can you the product: “ReptiSafe® water conditioner which is great for water bowls and removes chloramines and chlorine, detoxifies ammonia and nitrites, and provides essential ions and electrolytes which help to hydrate newly acquired animals.” **
Care Sheet Information From Our On-site Gecko Breeder and Specialist Jessica Saunders.
***Did I forget something or is there anything else you feel I should include on this care sheet? Please feel free to email me at Stephanie@BHBReptiles.com****
WHEN YOU ORDER A GECKO(S) FROM BHB REPTILES
Once you receive your Gecko(s), please inspect your box and the gecko. If there are any problems, please call us during business hours or email us during non-business hours for the fastest service. If there are no issues, please place your gecko directly into their new home and offer water. Wait to offer food until the next day to allow their stomach to settle from shipping. Finally, we would recommend extremely light handling or no handling the first week they arrive so that they can become acclimated to their new environment. Most of all, enjoy your new companion(s).