Sponge
New Member
Hi! Im looking to get a sub adult lepeord tortoise (at least 8 inches) preferably male, although a female would be great too! Im located in tucson if anyone has an offer or knows how/where I can get one
Looking to adopt or buy a subadult lepeord tortoise, located in tucson AZ
- Thread starter Sponge
- Start date
Welcome to the Forum!
You've found a unique site that cares very much about the well-being of tortoises and turtles.
Have you had a chance to read this yet?
tortoiseforum.org
Show us pictures of the enclosure(s) you have and tell us about your experience with Tortoises.
We'll do what we can to help you, but we need to know a bit more.
Settle in here there's a LOT of great info!
.
You've found a unique site that cares very much about the well-being of tortoises and turtles.
Have you had a chance to read this yet?
Info For New People. Please Read This First.
Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...
tortoiseforum.org
Show us pictures of the enclosure(s) you have and tell us about your experience with Tortoises.
We'll do what we can to help you, but we need to know a bit more.
Settle in here there's a LOT of great info!
.
Sponge
New Member
I havn't cared for a tortoise before, although I have some experience in water turtles, they are a lot more work... the enclosure is definitely not ready for a tortoise yet, it's still being prepared, and is about halfway done, I was looking for a reliable way to get a tortoise for the future (probably about a month so the bermuda grass I will be using can get strong roots) but I will say that the enclosure is about 110 square feet, as I said I'm planning to get a sub adult.
Sponge
New Member
I can upgrade the enclosure to a larger size once he gets larger, im aware that size cant be permanent
Every species of tortoise needs to have very warm and humid conditions for the first two to three years of life - which can only be accomplished by having a closed chamber to hold the heat and humidity inside. I don't know enough about Leopards to give good advice as to if the size you are considering is big enough to do well outside of the closed chamber stage. Let's ask some of the members who are much more knowledgeable about Leopards than I am :
@Tom
@Markw84
@ZEROPILOT
@Yvonne G
Let's hear what they say, but while we are waiting, this will be good to peruse :
tortoiseforum.org
These are about good things to be aware of and avoid -
tortoiseforum.org
tortoiseforum.org
And these two have far too many ideas and examples of indoor and outdoor enclosures, but are fun to look through and borrow from -
tortoiseforum.org
tortoiseforum.org
.
@Tom
@Markw84
@ZEROPILOT
@Yvonne G
Let's hear what they say, but while we are waiting, this will be good to peruse :
Leopard/sulcata starter
Hello there! In this thread I’m going to include some information below on how I’d personally tackle an indoor starter set up for a leopard/sulcata until they’re bigger. Hopefully it helps give people some ideas!” I know it looks like a lot to go over, I like to make sure all bases are covered...
tortoiseforum.org
These are about good things to be aware of and avoid -
Beginner Mistakes
To comment on Tom's article, go here: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-split-Beginner-Mistakes#axzz1tG8s05M5 Over the years many of us, myself included, have made many of these mistakes, and we have certainly seen them made many times by others. With springtime upon us and many new...
tortoiseforum.org
Common keeping errors
Hello everyone! I’d been a long time lurker on this site long before joining just under a year ago now, over that time I’ve seen these husbandry issues come up time and time again, sometimes with dire consequences☹️ I thought this thread might serve as a good visual guide for these common...
tortoiseforum.org
And these two have far too many ideas and examples of indoor and outdoor enclosures, but are fun to look through and borrow from -
Enclosure inspiration
Howdy folks! Hope everyone is well! As you all know, I’m a big fan of making threads that cater more towards visual learners like myself, I’ve really been wanting to create a thread full of adult enclosure inspiration for a while now, I’ve managed to find some great references over time! I do...
tortoiseforum.org
Visual inspiration
Hi guys! I’ve had some lovely messages complimenting me on my care sheets I made for all the visuals they include! That makes me so happy because as a visual learner myself, that was my goal🥰 I’ve recently had some requests for some more visual inspiration for set ups that can house babies/...
tortoiseforum.org
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A 8 inch tortoise/leapard needs a very big enclosure. 110 square is not big enough. That size is just over the size needed for a Russian which is much smaller. A hatchling needs a closed chamber as mentioned above. The size enclosure you have now would work once the leopard was around 3-4 inches but only for a year or two if taken care and fed properly. I would suggest getting the enclosure triple the size it is and work on adding plants for food and shade, a misting system and a heated night box for those colder days and nights in winter.
Plan on paying for one, not very often a leopard is given away. Female will cost more than a male. Keep in mind, they should not be housed in pairs, so if you plan on more then one, you will need the same setup for a second one.
Plan on paying for one, not very often a leopard is given away. Female will cost more than a male. Keep in mind, they should not be housed in pairs, so if you plan on more then one, you will need the same setup for a second one.
Hello and welcome!
10x11 feet is not terrible for an 8 inch leopard, but you might as well go bigger now while you are working on it.
The other important element you will need is a temperature controlled night box. The tortoise should sleep closed in the night box every night, and you can open the door to the box every morning so the tortoise can come out when it wants to. This box will offer shelter on hot days, warmth on cooler nights when they return in fall, and protection from rats, ants and other pests every night.
Here are two examples with safe and effective heating strategies:
Single Tortoise Night Box
I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...
tortoiseforum.org
Double Door Night Box
As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...
tortoiseforum.org
I don't know of anyone selling large juveniles right now. Most people sell babies and you raise them yourself in an indoor closed chamber enclosure. Check with kapidolofarms.com and tortoisesupply.com. I think I recall @NorCal tortoise guy is breeding them too now. He might have older ones or know where to find them.
All of your questions are welcome!
Sponge
New Member
Hmmm I've already built the walls so I don't know if building bigger ones is worth it, would a greek tortoise work in there? Im planning to plant a cactus, maybe a bush or 2, grass and build a partially under ground night house
A greek could work in there. I like the look of the hermanni too. How about rescuing a free desert tortoise? You could get a younger smaller one to start out with. It would be perfect for your climate and an underground hide out.
Sponge
New Member
I did consider that, but I was looking for a more active tortoise that spends a bit more time outside. Could one of the larger subspecies of greek, like the Jumbo Ibera, work in there? Also thank you for those extra links for the nighthouse, it was very helpful!
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DTs are as active or more active than a greek. Probably about the same as a hermanni. In your climate, any Testudo is going to hide from that heat all day. A DT will also hide from the mid day heat, but they are better adapted to that climate than any Testudo. Most DTs are very outgoing and friendly. They don't hide all day, and I think they would be out more than your other choices.
What about a Burmese start tortoise? They can easily fit within your confines, love the heat, are super outgoing, very hardy, easy to feed and you won't have to worry about brumation over winter. Seems like the perfect fit for what you've got there.
Introduction To The Burmese Star Tortoise
I've been wanting to do this thread for a long time... This species has become one of my all time favorites, and for good reasons! The purpose of all of my ramblings that follow are primarily intended to showcase how great this species is and why its a better species for most people than most...
tortoiseforum.org
Sponge
New Member
I think that I'll actually stick to a lepeord for now and upgrade the enclosure once he gets bigger, since I'm getting him at about 8 inches. the wall design is very movable under capable hands. Bermuda grass and a cactus is a proper enough diet right? Burmese would be fun, but I think a lepeord is a bit more manageable
Sponge
New Member
You intro to the burmese is very interesting, so you say they are easier to take care of than leopards? That would be great. Do they have the same diet for the most part? Im conflicted whether to get a leopard or burmese, they both sound very good, what would be your advice? It sounds like a leopard is generally less amintnencd but i would have to upgrade the enclosure size later, and it sounds like the burmese have better personalities and my current enclosure size is just fine, but a bit more maintenence? Correct me if im wrong
Sorry, I was a little off on the side your enclosure now is going to be. However it's still not a proper size for an adult leopard and one of my leopards at approximately 3-4 years is way past 8inches. My hatchlings would be 3-6 inches at 3 years old. Won't take long for an 8 inch to outgrow the enclosure.
As far as diet, no grass and cactus is not a proper enough diet. Much more needs to be added.
As far as diet, no grass and cactus is not a proper enough diet. Much more needs to be added.
The Burmese start are much more hardy and outgoing than regular leopards, and they stay smaller which is better for your smaller enclosure that you have built.
The daily maintenance is the same for both species. Diet is the same for both species. I think the stars might like the grass more than a leopard, but it depends on the genetics of the leopard you end up with. Some of them don't want to eat grass at all. My stars do eat grass when its offered.
