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Lighting
Mourning geckos are nocturnal, which means that most people assume that they don’t need any kind of lighting. However, I hold a firm belief that even dim lighting is beneficial for nocturnal species to regulate their circadian rhythm (natural day/night cycle). Furthermore, if you have live plants in your mourning gecko terrarium, keeping 6500K fluorescent or LED lights on for 12 hours/day will encourage healthy growth.
Again, because mourning geckos are nocturnal, most people make the mistaken assumption that UVB lighting is not beneficial. Mourning geckos can and will bask under UVB lighting if it is provided, and I have noticed that providing UVB makes a significant difference in healthy growth for hatchlings. A 5% UVB bulb like the Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 will be enough for a 12x12x18 enclosure.
Wild mourning geckos are commonly observed basking and being otherwise active during the day, especially in the morning. In fact, I have found that my own colony becomes very active at “dawn,” or when the lights first turn on in the morning, and sometimes I wake up to their chirping.
Photo contributed by Woodland Manor Darts and Dragons @WMD_n_D
Heating
- Basking area (top of enclosure) — 80-85°F (26-29°C)
- Cool area (bottom of enclosure) —70-75°F (21-24°C)
- Nighttime temperature — 65-72°F (18-22°C)
Note that it is very important to provide this range of temperatures! Consistent temperatures above 85°F (29°C) can cause stress and heat stroke, and consistent temperatures at or below 72°F (22°C) can cause lethargy, poor appetite, and illness.
People may tell you that it’s perfectly fine to keep mourning geckos at room temperature without a heat source, but it’s important to remember that like all other reptiles, mourning geckos are ectotherms, which means that they can’t produce their own body heat and rely on natural heat sources (ie: sunlight) in their environment to help them regulate their metabolism and digest food.Keep tabs on your geckos’ air temperatures with a quality digital probe thermometer, like the Zoo Med Digital Thermometer + Hygrometer, with the temperature probe placed in the basking area. Don’t use anything cheaper, like the ribbon thermometers commonly found in pet stores. You’ll save a bit of money, but it won’t be accurate and you risk accidentally cooking your gecko.
Photo property of ReptiFiles
Humidity
Mourning geckos are healthiest in 60-70% ambient humidity with higher levels up to 80-90% daily. You can create and maintain these levels by misting 1-2x daily, depending on how well ventilated your enclosure is. However, make sure that the enclosure dries to 50-60% before misting again, as mold and fungus will start to grow otherwise.
Mist 1-2x/day with a spray bottle (I use the Exo Terra Mister), heavily enough to create droplets all over the terrarium. Mourning geckos don’t drink from water dishes, so misting keeps them from getting dehydrated.
Do not use distilled, softened, or even filtered water for misting! Tap water (assuming that it’s safe for humans to drink) contains minerals vital to your gecko’s health. Yes, this means you’ll have to clean up water spots, but it’s worth it. Here’s why.
Photo contributed by Woodland Darts and Dragons @WMD_n_D
PRO TIP: Remove hard water spots with a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice (old spots may need help from a razor blade).
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