Are Leopard Tortoises Shy?

[onarock]

deletion When you generalize leopards and then back it up with all your EXPERIENCE comments be prepared for those who really have been keeping these animals and breeding them on a consistant basis, that dont share the same view, to disagee and when you. deleting off topic

 

[Neal]

just going to delete the whole thing....by Jacqui

 

[Tom]

deleted for being off topic People should be able to share their opinions on this forum without being personally attacked and called names. Me included. I don't agree with everyone about everything all the time, but when have I called anyone clueless or flat out accused them of lying about their level of experience? The mods would not tolerate it if I did it, so why is it tolerated for months on end of him doing it?
Off topic, but allowed as it has good points. As a mod, I don't allow blatant comments of such a matter when I see them. I just don't always see them...sorry

I was hoping that this thread would allow everyone to share their opinions on the matter of leopard tortoise personalities and then we could simply post a link for the next 1000 times someone asks about leopard personalities. Maybe its not such a good idea, since all this "dirty laundry" is on the thread now.

 

[Missy]

I read this post to learn more about Leopards because I just got one from Tom. Now I am sorry I read it. Please everyone just drop it. I think this forum is great and I learn so much from all of you. I suggest that you just simply do not read threads that the other posts. I respect everyones opinions on here from the well experienced to the brand new, I think we can learn something from everyone.

 

[Tom]

John, I failed to address your question regarding "blitzing them with a spray bottle like some form of water torture" question. Despite your implied insult, it is a valid point. I only started the water spraying around a year ago, so that wouldn't explain the previous 19 years of non-spraying leopard tortoise experience. Further, I don't spray adults or even larger juveniles, so IF you were correct it would only explain the shyness of any small ones that I have had in my care for the last year. None of the people I have asked spray their torts at any age, so it wouldn't explain their tortoises shyness either.

 

[dmmj]

Takes a deep breath
II personally have known leopard keepers now for about 6 years and have seen a few leopards, In my own personal experience they tend to be shyer than other species, I know of one or two with sulcata personalities but over all I think they are shyer.

Ok let the debate rage on.

 

[Tom]

So back to the original posts intent: It seems that the people chiming in have had a variety of experiences with leopards. We all seem to agree that SOME leopards are shy, while we have ALL seen examples of leopards that were not shy at all. So instead of a general statement that many don't agree with "Most leopards are shy, even though some aren't.", maybe the question ought to be, "What percentage has each person experienced as shy VS. not shy?" Maybe its 50/50 for one person, maybe 90/10 for another. What say the leopard keepers here on the forum?

 

[Neal]

Takes a deep breath
II personally have known leopard keepers now for about 6 years and have seen a few leopards, In my own personal experience they tend to be shyer than other species, I know of one or two with sulcata personalities but over all I think they are shyer.

written as a joke, but since I am cleaning the thread, remember even with joking language we have children in here...and adults behaving like children. , by Jacqui

---

So back to the original posts intent: It seems that the people chiming in have had a variety of experiences with leopards. We all seem to agree that SOME leopards are shy, while we have ALL seen examples of leopards that were not shy at all. So instead of a general statement that many don't agree with "Most leopards are shy, even though some aren't.", maybe the question ought to be, "What percentage has each person experienced as shy VS. not shy?" Maybe its 50/50 for one person, maybe 90/10 for another. What say the leopard keepers here on the forum?

It's hard to say. Of my 6 adults and sub adults and 7 hatchlings it's gotta be 75% what I consider as having personality /25 not. I can only comment on the ones I have, as the others I have seen and observe have been in a variety of different conditions and were brought up different ways. So maybe I just caught them on an off day, or a particularly average day. I think there are a lot subjective things should be considered in this is well as I have always said. That's why I think it's going to be hard to come up with anything conclusive in this debate.

 

[dmmj]

Regarding my statement on shyness I could not say by sub species (if it exists) just leopards in general.

 

[N2TORTS]

actually I see the same thing go on about RF's..
( the debates) .......( the so called know it all's) ..Iam usally the one in hot water, the last one one I laughed at is"Ive seen 1,000 Redfoots in the last 10 years ..." ....SO just to be fair, removing this one word too as not condusive to a child reading it...by Jacqui what? .... Now back to the thread ... yea all of my leo's past and present seem to be on the more shy side when compared to other species I've kept current or past. Although I dont consider myself an expert of any species, I know "my" animals VERY well.......and after 40 years + keeping them along with other herps...its never fun to be the salty dog - or the new guy on the block, but I do find it more entertaining than cable!


JD~

 

[dmmj]

actually I see the same thing go on about RF's..
( the debates) .......( the so called know it all's) ..Iam usally the one in hot water, the last one one I laughed at is"Ive seen 1,000 Redfoots in the last 10 years ..." ....SO ... what? .... Now back to the thread ... yea all of my leo's past and present seem to be on the more shy side when compared to other species I've kept current or past. Although I dont consider myself an expert of any species, I know "my" animals VERY well.......and after 40 years + keeping them along with other herps...its never fun to be the salty dog - or the new guy on the block, but I do find it more entertaining than cable!


JD~

You know I have seen literally thousands of women over the years, it does not make me an expert on them.

 

[Az tortoise compound]

So back to the original posts intent: It seems that the people chiming in have had a variety of experiences with leopards. We all seem to agree that SOME leopards are shy, while we have ALL seen examples of leopards that were not shy at all. So instead of a general statement that many don't agree with "Most leopards are shy, even though some aren't.", maybe the question ought to be, "What percentage has each person experienced as shy VS. not shy?" Maybe its 50/50 for one person, maybe 90/10 for another. What say the leopard keepers here on the forum?

The most shy tortoises I own are a radiated yearling (spends 22 hrs a day in his shell) and two juvenile P.pardalis (will not move while someone is in their presence...even for food).

I say 50/50 because they are shy or they aren't
Helpful I know......

 

[N2TORTS]

actually I see the same thing go on about RF's..
( the debates) .......( the so called know it all's) ..Iam usally the one in hot water, the last one one I laughed at is"Ive seen 1,000 Redfoots in the last 10 years ..." ....SO ... what? .... Now back to the thread ... yea all of my leo's past and present seem to be on the more shy side when compared to other species I've kept current or past. Although I dont consider myself an expert of any species, I know "my" animals VERY well.......and after 40 years + keeping them along with other herps...its never fun to be the salty dog - or the new guy on the block, but I do find it more entertaining than cable!


JD~

You know I have seen literally thousands of women over the years, it does not make me an expert on them.

I think thats called a VOYURE....ya dont drive a van do you ?

 

[onarock]

Mean Mod Jacqui who is getting real tire of this red ink stuff, just decided it all needed to be deleted. Get back on topic here and stop the childish behavior folks.

 

[Mao Senpai]

Well I just wanted to say... the most outgoing of my leopard snatched some cactus out of my hand today! I was totally shocked. I was filling up the food bowl and wasn't looking because I was trying to do something else and had my hand there for a minute and.. snatch! I thought it was cool My other one just stared at me like... are you gone yet.

 

[Jacqui]

Okay, guess while I am here, I will add my two cents worth.

First I have limited experience, but here goes: I had for about two years a group of about 6-8 teenager leopards years back. Most were rather shy, but none terribly shy. Fast forward to today... one adult male who was very much a pet, he is a shadow when your out in his area. One of the friendliest tortoises I have ever been around. Then there are 4 younger ones, which have been here several years. One is super duper shy, the rest just normal healthy type of shy. Keep in mind, I do not do much babying my tortoises as a rule. The really shy one is an exception, she gets more ATTEMPTED babying, yet stays very shy.

 

[onarock]

I didnt write this and I dont think Jacqui is mean.

Mean Mod Jacqui who is getting real tire of this red ink stuff, just decided it all needed to be deleted. Get back on topic here and stop the childish behavior folks.

 

[Jacqui]

I didnt write this and I dont think Jacqui is mean.

Mean Mod Jacqui who is getting real tire of this red ink stuff, just decided it all needed to be deleted. Get back on topic here and stop the childish behavior folks.

For anybody who does not understand, everything in this and another issue prone thread on Sulcatas VS Leopards, is being used when I, Jacqui the Mod, am deleting posts. No Paul did not write the above, nor did he ever tell me I am mean, that was me, Jacqui, writing that after I deleted Paul's entire post. I was getting very frustrated at that point by what I term childish behavior by supposed adults in here. We are not here to fight, we are here to learn and to help others learn. If you want to fight and argue, go do it some where other then in this forum...please!

 

[Neal]

Thanks for wriitng it too!



You're welcome and thank you for bringing things back on track.

 

[John]

Man, did ya here the latest rumor? Mod Jacqui is mean. mean people rule!