Scientific name

Lepidodactylus lugubris

This species includes parthenogenetic lineages: females can produce offspring without mating [2].

Origin

Indo-Pacific; numerous introduced populations [2].

  • Small gecko
  • Nocturnal
  • Parthenogenetic

At a glance

BODY SIZE4–4,4 cm
Snout–vent; tail excluded [1].
LIFESPANNot established
No reliable reference in the sources consulted.
LIFESTYLENocturnal
Occasional daytime outings [1].

Adult size

Around 4–4,4 cm from snout to vent, without the tail [1].

Lifespan

Captive lifespan is not established by the two selected sources.

Lifestyle

Nocturnal, with some daytime outings [1].

Housing

AN ESCAPE-PROOF HABITAT

Slender supports and shelters — No minimum for home husbandry established by the experimental containers [1].

Supports and shelters, with close-fitting closures. Experimental containers do not establish a minimum for home husbandry [1].

Care parameters

TEMPERATURE · STUDY

24–28 °C — Laboratory enclosure, not a heating surface [1].

THERMAL GRADIENT

Cooler retreat — Non-uniform heating [1].

Humidity

To be documented — Two contradictory ranges in the article; no single instruction adopted [1].

Temperature · study

24–28 °C [1] Laboratory enclosure range, not a heating surface.

Thermal gradient

Cooler retreat [1] Avoid heating the entire space.

Humidity

To be documented The same article gives 50–80 %, then 30–40 %: this discrepancy does not allow a single instruction [1].

Night — NEHERP experience

NEHERP describes around 18–24 °C at night (65–75 °F). [3] Scope: captivity; NEHERP commercial experience. A reported limit is not a target or an established physiological threshold.

Feeding

AN APPROPRIATE DIET

Small insects and formulated food for fruit-eating geckos [1].

Feeding

The study alternates small insects with formulated food for fruit-eating geckos; prepared leftovers are removed the following day [1].

Behaviour and precautions

Reproduction without a male means births must be anticipated [2]. Identify individuals and monitor each one’s access to meals.

Daily monitoring

Keep a count of adults, eggs and juveniles. Link each weighing to an identification photo. Record laying locations and group changes to retain a useful history even as the colony grows.

Glued eggs and juvenile safety

Eggs are glued to the support when laid. NEHERP advises against detaching them because they may break; a removable laying support allows the whole assembly to be moved. Record laying without requiring every egg to be removed. [3]

Very young geckos can pass through small openings, particularly cable holes. Check these access points before their arrival. The breeder also advises against grouping individuals of very different sizes. [3]

Offering small, accessible amounts

For juveniles, a small shallow dish limits contact between the prepared food and toes or skin. Offer a few small prey items at a time and observe consumption. [3]

Checklist

  • Inspect every small opening.
  • Plan for births.
  • Document humidity before arrival.

Observations to record

  • Meals
  • Weight
  • Sheds
  • Temperature
  • Humidity

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Related guides

Original guides in French

Sources

Document-based overview; not a substitute for veterinary advice.

  1. Griffing et al., Herpetological Review 49(2), 2018 — Protocols for Husbandry and Embryo Collection
    Source accessed
  2. The Reptile Database — Lepidodactylus lugubris
    Source accessed
  3. Mourning Gecko Care Sheet
    Source accessed