Captive-Bred Mourning Gecko Pairs (Lepidodactylus lugubris)

Establish or expand your bioactive display with healthy, active, captive-bred Mourning Geckos (Lepidodactylus lugubris). Famous for their social chirping, communal interaction, and all-female parthenogenetic reproduction, these micro-geckos bring vibrant life to naturalistic terrariums.

Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction where embryos develop from unfertilized eggs without genetic contribution from a male. In species like mourning geckos (Lepidodactylus lugubris), populations are entirely female, producing offspring that are genetic clones of the mother—meaning a single female or bonded pair can reliably reproduce and build a multi-generational colony without a mate. 

While mourning geckos are functionally an all-female species, phenotypic males have been clinically documented on exceptionally rare occasions. These individuals are typically the result of hormonal variations or chromosomal anomalies and are almost universally sterile, playing no functional role in colony reproduction. 

Because mourning geckos thrive in established social groups, all geckos are offered in pairs (two sub-adults or two mature adults) to ensure a smooth transition into their new enclosure. Raised with meticulous care on premium powdered gecko diets and calcium-dusted micro-feeders under gentle linear UVB.

Documented Lineages & Morph Types

• Type A (Classic Lineage): Line originally sourced from The Seattle Reptile Guy. Features classic lighter tan-to-olive ground coloring, subtle chevron striping, and striking light-to-dark firing shifts.
• Type B (High-Contrast Markings Near Forelimbs and Hindlimbs ): Line originally sourced from Josh's Frogs.
• Mixed Pair (1 Type A + 1 Type B): A fantastic option to enjoy both proven lineages and dynamic visual contrast in a shared bioactive vivarium.

Age & Condition Options

• Adult Pair (Actively Egg-Producing): Fully mature, robust proven breeders (~3" to 3.5") that are already actively laying fertile, calcified eggs. Perfect for keepers looking to rapidly establish their own self-sustaining colony.
• Sub-Adult Pair: Well-started, active juveniles approaching maturity (~1.5" to 2"). Ideal for watching your geckos grow and establish their own social order.
• Full Intact Tails: Flawless original tails.
• Regenerated Tail Pair: Geckos with partially regrown tails. They are 100% active, healthy, and genetically identical to full-tailed geckos (including proven egg production in adults), offered at a discount for budget-conscious bioactive homes.

Animal Welfare & Strict Shipping Policy

Our geckos are deeply loved, and their health and safety always come before convenience. We follow strict live animal transport standards:

• Shipping Rate: Flat-rate $50 per bonded pair, which covers heavy-duty insulated packaging, specialized phase-change temperature packs, deli cups, and priority transit.
• FedEx Overnight Only: Shipped exclusively Monday through Wednesday to prevent any risk of weekend transit delays.
• FedEx Ship Center (Hub) Pickup Only: To avoid extreme delivery truck temperatures and rough residential delivery routes, all orders must be held for pickup at an authorized FedEx Ship Center hub. We will help locate the closest climate-controlled hub to your address.
• Local Pickup: I also offer local pickup at City of Vancouver Safe Exchange Zones
• Weather Holds: Shipments will only proceed when departure, transit, and destination temperatures are safely between 40°F and 85°F. Orders will be safely held if adverse weather presents any danger to the animals.
• Order Coordination: As soon as your order is received, I will personally contact you to verify your contact information, confirm your preferred FedEx Ship Center hub location, review the weather forecast along the route, and arrange a mutually agreed shipping date before the box is packed.
• Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG): Backed by our live arrival guarantee when picked up within 2 hours of hub arrival. All boxes include heavy-duty insulated foam liners, secure deli cups, and phase-change temperature packs tailored to the forecast.

Terrarium Quick Specs

Housing & Enclosure Sizing

• Hatchlings: Start micro-hatchlings in small, secure arboreal setups (such as acrylic spider enclosures) to prevent escapes and ensure they easily locate food.
• Adult Pairs & Small Colonies: I give each adult about 1- 1.5 gallons of space.  Adults also need at least 12" of vertical space to ensure proper mobility.  
• Established Colonies: A standard 12" × 12" × 18" front-opening terrarium provides ample vertical climbing volume for an active colony of up to 10 adults.
• Recommended Enclosures:
  • Tarantula Cribs (Gecko / Arboreal Series)
  • Standard 5- to 20-gallon tanks retrofitted with I Heart Geckos vertical conversion kits (ensure you select fine vents or custom-cut micro holes).
  • Our 12"x12"12" Enclosure (works well for adult colonies up to 6)

Escape-Proofing Protocols

• Seal Cable Ports & Vents: Mourning geckos can squeeze through hairline gaps. Thoroughly check and seal all cord grommets, lid hinges, and door gaps with 100% aquarium-safe silicone.
• Removable Screen Tops: If using a terrarium with a drop-in or sliding mesh screen, seal this top with silicone to prevent escapes through tiny cracks.

Egg Management & Incubation

• Communal Laying Sites: Mourning geckos exhibit communal nesting behaviors, frequently depositing clutches together in tight, dark crevices. Providing targeted, removable laying hides—such as small hollow bamboo tubes, suction-cup canisters, or compact caves—encourages them to lay in accessible areas rather than gluing eggs directly to vivarium glass or background foam.
• Routine Monthly Swaps: Check and rotate laying hides roughly once a month. Transfer the entire hide rather than attempting to pry or scrape off adhered eggs, which can easily crack the delicate shells.
• Dedicated Hatching Setup: Move occupied hides into a separate nursery container or micro-mesh rearing tub maintained at normal ambient room temperature and humidity. 
• Maintain Strict Egg Orientation: Unlike avian eggs, reptile eggs must never be turned, rotated, or rolled. The developing embryo adheres to the top inside of the eggshell early in incubation; flipping or jostling the egg can cause the embryo to detach or become suffocated beneath the heavier yolk.
• Seamless Transfer Protocol: When moving removable laying hides or tubes to the nursery setup, keep them resting in the exact physical orientation the female laid them in. If an egg is loose or needs to be repositioned, use a soft graphite pencil to place a tiny dot on the upright surface before moving it to ensure the top side always remains facing up.
• Preventing Cannibalism & Escapes: Isolating eggs prior to hatching eliminates two major hazards: tiny micro-hatchlings slipping through hairline enclosure gaps, and adult geckos opportunistically preying on newly emerged young.

Environmental Parameters

• Ambient Temperature: 72°F–78°F. If your room consistently stays in the low-to-mid 70s, supplemental heating is generally unnecessary.
• Basking Zone: ~82°F. In drafty areas or during cold winter months where ambient temps dip below 70°F, provide a gentle, low-wattage heat source to establish a light thermal gradient.
• Humidity & Hydration: 60%–80% relative humidity. Mist thoroughly twice daily to maintain moisture and provide clean water droplets for drinking on broad leaves and glass, allowing a slight dry-down between mistings.

Diet & Nutrition

• Staple Diet: High-quality prepared crested gecko formulas (such as Repashy, Gargeer, or Blue River Diets) offered in small, elevated feeding cups 2 to 3 times per week.
• Live Prey Enrichment: Supplement weekly with live, dusted micro-insects to encourage natural hunting behaviors. Excellent choices include flightless fruit flies (Drosophila hydei or melanogaster) and small-to-medium Black Soldier Fly larvae (calciworms/nutrigrubs). Dust non-calcium-heavy feeders with a balanced calcium and multivitamin powder.