New leopard adult

[Kdaniels2001]

I’m about to adopt a 6 yr old 12 lbs leopard male. We live in Ohio and he is currently outdoors full time in the summer. I also have a hatching leopard that stays indoors but has an outdoor enclosure. I have plenty of room to build a suitable outdoor enclosure for the big guy but I have large dogs so what’s the most secure options for me? And when should I bring him in for the winter? I plan to build a four seasons room this fall but if it doesn’t get done in time we have the option to insulate a small portion of our barn to put him in.

Also, what are all the must haves for larger tortoises?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Also, what are all the must haves for larger tortoises?

I would say Tom's night box:

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

 

[Tom]

I’m about to adopt a 6 yr old 12 lbs leopard male. We live in Ohio and he is currently outdoors full time in the summer. I also have a hatching leopard that stays indoors but has an outdoor enclosure. I have plenty of room to build a suitable outdoor enclosure for the big guy but I have large dogs so what’s the most secure options for me? And when should I bring him in for the winter? I plan to build a four seasons room this fall but if it doesn’t get done in time we have the option to insulate a small portion of our barn to put him in.

Also, what are all the must haves for larger tortoises?

The most secure housing option would be a large cage. I use a couple of these for my stars here. They are around 30x30 feet. No predator or dog can get to them.

Most of my other large tortoises are in large open topped pens. You could use this method and just have secure fencing around it to keep the dogs out. Next to dehydration, dogs are probably the next biggest killer of tortoises in captivity. Don't skimp on this step. If you make an impenetrable fortress and its way stronger than it needs to be, your tortoise will come to no harm. If you don't make it strong enough...

You can get him out earlier in spring, and keep him out later in fall if you use one of the night boxes that was linked above in the previous post. Over winter, the shed can work, but it needs to stay no lower than 80 on the floor. Measure the temperature down on the floor where the tortoise is, not up on the wall at eye level. Leopards don't do well if allowed to get cold. With that in mind, have an oversized generator on hand for when the power goes out in winter.

 

[Kdaniels2001]

The most secure housing option would be a large cage. I use a couple of these for my stars here. They are around 30x30 feet. No predator or dog can get to them.

Most of my other large tortoises are in large open topped pens. You could use this method and just have secure fencing around it to keep the dogs out. Next to dehydration, dogs are probably the next biggest killer of tortoises in captivity. Don't skimp on this step. If you make an impenetrable fortress and its way stronger than it needs to be, your tortoise will come to no harm. If you don't make it strong enough...

You can get him out earlier in spring, and keep him out later in fall if you use one of the night boxes that was linked above in the previous post. Over winter, the shed can work, but it needs to stay no lower than 80 on the floor. Measure the temperature down on the floor where the tortoise is, not up on the wall at eye level. Leopards don't do well if allowed to get cold. With that in mind, have an oversized generator on hand for when the power goes out in winter.

I do have an unused kennel I can utilize. Do they still need supplemented in the summer with calcium and vitamins like they do when they’re small?

 

[Tom]

Do they still need supplemented in the summer with calcium and vitamins like they do when they’re small?

That depends on what they are eating. If it's lots of weeds, mulberry leaves, cactus pads, Mazuri, etc..., then you really don't need much supplementation. If its a lot of grocery store greens, they you will need the supplements and other amendments too.