18months later

[terrypin]

i hatched this little one among others 18 months ago and i have been really careful with their diet.its not the first time i have raised leopards these are definately the best shape though.i just hope i have finally got things right at last.this is the same tortoise at a couple of days old and again at 18 months.
terry

 

[Yvonne G]

That's some pretty nice, smooth growth! Good job!

 

[Stephanie Logan]

Wow, that's a huge change in the coloring. Is that typical for Leopards or for all tortoises?

Are the lightish "auras" on the edges of the scutes considered "marbling"?

 

[jblayza]

Looks great! Would you mind sharing your set up and diet?

 

[spikethebest]

so what is your method? humidity, soakings, diet, temps, exercise, substrate, sunshine...etc

 

[ChiKat]

Nice smooth growth!! Leopards are gorgeous- especially that one!
I agree, share your secrets!

 

[terrypin]

hi,thanks for looking and for the nice comments.i have no secrets just a combination of a healthy natural diet and good quality uv.with hatchlings hydration is very important.i had tried them with a humid hide but i found that most of them dont use it so i binned it months ago.
terry

 

[JourneyTort]

hi,thanks for looking and for the nice comments.i have no secrets just a combination of a healthy natural diet and good quality uv.with hatchlings hydration is very important.i had tried them with a humid hide but i found that most of them dont use it so i binned it months ago.
terry

So what did you do differently this time around compared to previous? Was there anything specific that you changed?

 

[terrypin]

hi,thanks for looking and for the nice comments.i have no secrets just a combination of a healthy natural diet and good quality uv.with hatchlings hydration is very important.i had tried them with a humid hide but i found that most of them dont use it so i binned it months ago.
terry

So what did you do differently this time around compared to previous? Was there anything specific that you changed?

i now start them off on coarse weeds and chopped grasses from day one.previously i have found it very difficult to change their diet even after a few months when they are eating well and established.i also use a combi lamp these of course werent available to me in 1996 when i got my first cb hatchlings.
terry

 

[terracolson]

I am new to Leopard torts, but i have a hatchling and he/she has lots of white coming in, yours has no white, I wonder why?

 

[terrypin]

I am new to Leopard torts, but i have a hatchling and he/she has lots of white coming in, yours has no white, I wonder why?

their colour changes as they grow and the marbling develops. the next picture is of this one a few months ago.also when they are small some can look very different even from the same hatch.as they grow they normally become very similar.i have heard that if they are kept warmer as youngsters they can show more pale growth this does eventually darken,personally i prefer mine to have a more natural look as close as possible to a wild caught animal.so this one a few months ago then a couple of others showing different stages of growth.
terry