5 inch Leopard Tortoise Enclosure

[Laurence]

Is 135L enclosure too small for a single 5inch leopard?

 

[wellington]

Yes. 3 or 4x6 or larger feet should last until s/he can live outside 24/7 at around 10 inches.
Too small enclosures can lead to a tortoise that can't walk properly. I rescued a leopard raised like that. He was under sized and couldn't walk. Luckily therapy and proper room changed everything.

 

[Laurence]

Thanks for your reply. I didnt know it would be that serious.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Yes. 3 or 4x6 or larger feet should last until s/he can live outside 24/7 at around 10 inches.
Too small enclosures can lead to a tortoise that can't walk properly. I rescued a leopard raised like that. He was under sized and couldn't walk. Luckily therapy and proper room changed everything.

And, to add, if he can't walk then his inner digestion is damaged as well...no pooping

 

[wellington]

Thanks for your reply. I didnt know it would be that serious.

Think about them in the wild. They travel a lot to find food. They are not confined to a tiny area. Even the biggest area we give isn't nothing compared to the wild they cover.
That's why we have to at least try to give the minimum or bigger for their size and enlarge as they do. We can never give them the size of the wild, but we should give them the biggest possible and if that is way to small then we shouldn't have them.

 

[Laurence]

And, to add, if he can't walk then his inner digestion is damaged as well...no pooping

Oh i dont really see his poop also maybe thats why.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Oh i dont really see his poop also maybe thats why.

generally..if they are eating they will poop. If you think the tort is constipated, you can stick him in a warmer than normal and deeper then normal tub...so that he has to swim...so they will get slightly stressed and swim frantically and start to poop...works often...lol

 

[Laurence]

Oh damn thats an odd method. Will try it out.

 

[Lyn W]

Hi and welcome,
Please read the caresheet for Sulcata and Leopards in this African tort thread and also

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They will tell you everything you need to know about correctly caring for your tort and please also ask as many questions as you like there's always someone to help.

 

[Tom]

Is 135L enclosure too small for a singleView attachment 365515 5inch leopard?

I agree that this is much too small. Four of those put together would be too small. You need something 122x144cm, like the size of a sheet of plywood, but closed in. A vivarium, in other words.

The tortoise also needs a humid hide. Open flower pots don't contain humidity.

That water bowl is too small. The tortoise needs to be able to easily climb into its water bowl to soak. Terra cotta plant saucers sunk into the substrate work best.

 

[Laurence]

Thank you for all your advices, these are all noted.

 

[Tom]

Thank you for all your advices, these are all noted.

More questions and conversation are always welcome. We love to talk about tortoises! 🐢

 

[Laurence]

Would turning this kiddie pool into a tortoise enclosure and just adding a lid be a good idea? Plan to own more than 1 in the future

 

[Megatron's Mom]

Would turning this kiddie pool into a tortoise enclosure and just adding a lid be a good idea? Plan to own more than 1 in the future

I used two of those for my tortoises temporary outdoor enclosures. I even sprinkled a chicken seed forage mix in it for them it worked great.

Definitely needs a top of some sort for preditors and stuff. I'm not familiar with your weather in the PI. You want to watch the heat and humidity with the pools and the sort of lid you put on it.

 

[zovick]

Would turning this kiddie pool into a tortoise enclosure and just adding a lid be a good idea? Plan to own more than 1 in the future

Not sue if you plan to use that pool inside or outside, but I wanted to mention a precautionary note here. If you use that pool (or any similar tub-like enclosure) outdoors you must be sure to put drain holes in the bottom or at the point where the sides meet the bottom to ensure that when/if it rains heavily, the water can escape. I know people whose tortoises have drowned in their outdoor enclosures when heavy rainstorms have passed through and the tortoises' owners were not home.

 

[Maggie3fan]

I don't want to be mean, but you simply cannot get any more tortoises until you can take better care of the one you have. To start with that one tortoise needs a lot more room...not just a plastic wading pool