Mourning Gecko Tank Setup: A Small, Humid, Planted Display Vivarium
Mourning gecko setups look more like a miniature planted terrarium than a typical reptile tank, this is a display colony, not a single-animal enclosure.
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Mourning Gecko Tank Setup: A Small, Humid, Planted Display Vivarium
Mourning gecko setups look more like a miniature planted terrarium than a typical reptile tank, this is a display colony, not a single-animal enclosure. For the full care picture, see our complete Mourning Gecko care guide.
Enclosure Size
A 12x18x18 inch, tall, front-opening enclosure works for a pair or small group of up to about three to five. Since mourning geckos self-multiply, plan on eventually stepping up to something larger, an 18x18x24 inch enclosure comfortably houses a bigger group as your colony grows. Height matters more than floor space for this arboreal species.
Temperature
A daytime ambient temperature of 70 to 80°F with a warm basking spot up to 85°F works well, dropping to 65 to 72°F at night. At normal room temperature, most homes need no dedicated heat source at all. Only add gentle supplemental heat if your room consistently runs cold.
Humidity
Keep relative humidity between 60 and 80%, with brief peaks up to 90% via daily mistings. Let the enclosure dry slightly afterward to prevent mold and respiratory issues, and use a moisture-retentive substrate to help hold humidity between mistings.
Substrate
Coconut coir, or a coir and sphagnum moss blend, works well and supports a bioactive-style setup nicely. Keep it appropriately moist without becoming waterlogged.
Lighting
Low-output UVB (in the 5 to 6% range) is strongly recommended given how frequently females lay eggs and the resulting calcium demand, see our Mourning Gecko health issues guide for why that demand is higher in this species than in most beginner geckos. Run a standard 12-hour light cycle.
The Detail That Matters More Than Almost Anything Else: Escape-Proofing
Hatchling mourning geckos measure under an inch long, small enough to slip through ventilation gaps and around door frames that would easily contain nearly any other gecko species. Once loose in a house, they're extremely difficult to recover.
Before adding any mourning geckos to a new enclosure, seal every gap you can find with aquarium-safe putty or a similar barrier. This single step prevents the most common and most frustrating mourning gecko keeping mistake, our Mourning Gecko handling guide covers why this species is so much more escape-prone than the average gecko in the first place.
Furnishings
Dense foliage, either live plants (pothos and similar low-light species work well) or artificial, plus cork bark and branches for climbing. Provide multiple feeding stations, a dominant female may guard a single food dish and prevent others from eating. Adult mourning geckos may eat hatchlings, so if intentionally breeding, plan for separating young animals as they appear.
Gargoyle geckos are commonly fed the same complete crested gecko diet powder as mourning geckos, so if you're setting up both, see our Gargoyle Gecko tank setup guide for how a very different-sized species furnishes a similar diet station.
Once this setup is dialed in, our Mourning Gecko cost guide breaks down exactly what all of this runs upfront and month to month, or browse the rest of our Geckos care guide category.
Our complete guide to UVB lighting explains why glass blocks UVB and why a bulb needs replacing long before it stops looking bright.
Sources & Further Reading
Last reviewed 25 Jul 2026 · 1 source
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What size enclosure does a mourning gecko need?
12x18x18 inches (tall, front-opening) works for a pair or small group of up to about three to five. Since mourning geckos self-multiply, plan on eventually stepping up to something larger, an 18x18x24 inch enclosure comfortably houses a bigger group as your colony grows. Height matters more than floor space for this arboreal species.
Does a mourning gecko need a heat source?
Usually not. A daytime ambient temperature of 70 to 80°F with a warm basking spot up to 85°F works well, dropping to 65 to 72°F at night, and most homes at normal room temperature need no dedicated heat source at all. Only add gentle supplemental heat if your room consistently runs cold.
What humidity does a mourning gecko need?
Keep relative humidity between 60 and 80%, with brief peaks up to 90% via daily mistings. Let the enclosure dry slightly afterward to prevent mold and respiratory issues, using a moisture-retentive substrate to help hold humidity between mistings.
What's the single most important setup detail for a mourning gecko?
Escape-proofing. Hatchling mourning geckos are small enough to slip through ventilation gaps and door frames that would contain nearly any other gecko species. Seal every gap you can find with aquarium-safe putty or a similar barrier before adding any mourning geckos to a new enclosure.
Do mourning geckos need UVB?
Low-output UVB, in the 5 to 6% range, is strongly recommended given how frequently females lay eggs and the resulting calcium demand. Run a standard 12-hour light cycle.
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Written by Michael Ryan
Mike keeps two rescued bearded dragons, Dex and Cera, and writes the care guides on BeastlyFacts from his own research and mistakes. He is not a veterinarian.
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