MIReptilian
Member
I'm a new member doing a ton of research trying to figure out what tortoise is best for me and my family. The leopard is on my short list.
I live in a rural area of Michigan and have enough space for a large indoor and very large outdoor enclosure.
Summers here are hot and humid and winters are cold and snowy.
I'll be a first time tortoise owner so really dont want a species that is too high maintenance.. I am well aware that caring for any animal is a good amount of work. I'm a beekeeper and have some poultry as well.
With proper care will the leopard tortoise be comfortable in my environment? Obviously it would be living indoors throughout our winter and outdoors in the late spring through late summer (when it is of age).
Any real concerns or nice to know kinda stuff with leopards that are different from other tortoises?
Can anyone point me in the direction of a thread that compares the difference between the 2 sub species (or species.. not sure what the proper terminology is) between the leopards? My understanding that there is a South African version pardalis pardalis and then a regular one pardalis babcocki. Is this correct? Is there a difference in size, personality, character? Looks like the babcocki sub species is more readily available. I'm looking for an active tortoise with some character. Thoughts?
Is it smart for someone like me to consider a yearling over a very young hatchling?
Will a tortoise table work for a leopard? It seems that I've read most people opt for full enclosures to help moderate humidity. Not a big deal, just curious.
I will say that whatever species of tortoise I choose will be given a very good life. Whatever it needs. It will get. I plan on building an indoor enclosure before I even get the tortoise and outfitting it's space with all the necessities. We also have a 50x32 organic garden (complete romaine, radicchio, kale, berries etc ) on our property along with a 20 tree organic fruit orchard. We do not spay the lawn areas so we have tons of dandelions, weeds and native wildflowers.
Anyone willing to offer up some advice or suggestions? Also breeders to consider or online sellers?
Thank you so much. I honestly cant stop reading about tortoises and find their care, enclosures etc very interesting.
Ps. I'm considering an eastern box turtle and possibly a hermanns tortoise as well. I likely post similar threads in those specific forums.
Thanks
Jeff.
I live in a rural area of Michigan and have enough space for a large indoor and very large outdoor enclosure.
Summers here are hot and humid and winters are cold and snowy.
I'll be a first time tortoise owner so really dont want a species that is too high maintenance.. I am well aware that caring for any animal is a good amount of work. I'm a beekeeper and have some poultry as well.
With proper care will the leopard tortoise be comfortable in my environment? Obviously it would be living indoors throughout our winter and outdoors in the late spring through late summer (when it is of age).
Any real concerns or nice to know kinda stuff with leopards that are different from other tortoises?
Can anyone point me in the direction of a thread that compares the difference between the 2 sub species (or species.. not sure what the proper terminology is) between the leopards? My understanding that there is a South African version pardalis pardalis and then a regular one pardalis babcocki. Is this correct? Is there a difference in size, personality, character? Looks like the babcocki sub species is more readily available. I'm looking for an active tortoise with some character. Thoughts?
Is it smart for someone like me to consider a yearling over a very young hatchling?
Will a tortoise table work for a leopard? It seems that I've read most people opt for full enclosures to help moderate humidity. Not a big deal, just curious.
I will say that whatever species of tortoise I choose will be given a very good life. Whatever it needs. It will get. I plan on building an indoor enclosure before I even get the tortoise and outfitting it's space with all the necessities. We also have a 50x32 organic garden (complete romaine, radicchio, kale, berries etc ) on our property along with a 20 tree organic fruit orchard. We do not spay the lawn areas so we have tons of dandelions, weeds and native wildflowers.
Anyone willing to offer up some advice or suggestions? Also breeders to consider or online sellers?
Thank you so much. I honestly cant stop reading about tortoises and find their care, enclosures etc very interesting.
Ps. I'm considering an eastern box turtle and possibly a hermanns tortoise as well. I likely post similar threads in those specific forums.
Thanks
Jeff.