Hello everyone! I am new to the forum but an avid reptile keeper. I’m currently looking to add a tortoise to my collection. I have always been fascinated with them and have enjoyed reading on this forum. I currently live in Ohio, so cold weather is an issue. My dream animal would be a P.P. Leopard. I love their size and beauty. However, I realize that my location limits me to what I can keep. I know that it is possible but is it ethical to keep a large animal like this in a colder climate? Smaller species such as Russians and Hermanns are intriguing as well but I would love a Leopard. Thanks in advance!
Choosing a Species
- Thread starter Luke.L
- Start date
Welcome.
I'm in Chicago and keep two leopards and a Russian. If you have the room and means to build a heated shed for winter or dedicate a whole large room for winter then it's fine. My leopards live in a shed for winter and outside for summer. They go outside whenever it's sunny in spring and fall and have access to heat until real winter hits and then they are in the shed.
If you don't have the room or means to give this, then a smaller species like a Russian is best.
I'm in Chicago and keep two leopards and a Russian. If you have the room and means to build a heated shed for winter or dedicate a whole large room for winter then it's fine. My leopards live in a shed for winter and outside for summer. They go outside whenever it's sunny in spring and fall and have access to heat until real winter hits and then they are in the shed.
If you don't have the room or means to give this, then a smaller species like a Russian is best.
Thanks for the response! How large of a space would be needed for an adult leopard indoors? I know bigger is always better but just wondered if there is a bare minimum you would recommend. Also, I know that P.B. Leopards typically stay smaller than P.P. Leopards so maybe that would be a better choice for me.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Personally I’d stick to the herman& Russian route, as much as it’s technically doable if you have the means to provide a room sized space that can maintain the humidity and heat, or a large heated shed, it’s still less than ideal for the location imo, that’s just me, someone who’s family has a red foot in the cold wet UK lol, if we could turn back time, they would have got a Russian. A temperate species that brumates would be more ideal I think
Russians are great starter species and there are always ones that need rescuing.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Yes sooo many need better homes! honestly some might consider them a less exciting species, but I really have a soft spot for them, their personalities are so feisty
Just gave mine a soak - the amount of stink eye is strong with that one!Yes sooo many need better homes! honestly some might consider them a less exciting species, but I really have a soft spot for them, their personalities are so feisty
Personally there is nothing wrong with keeping the leopards in colder areas. Good thing, or so many wouldn't have homes. It just requires more space and means. Even people in CA deals with cold temps down into the same temps the Northerners get. Just have warmer days most times.Personally I’d stick to the herman& Russian route, as much as it’s technically doable if you have the means to provide a room sized space that can maintain the humidity and heat, or a large heated shed, it’s still less than ideal for the location imo, that’s just me, someone who’s family has a red foot in the cold wet UK lol, if we could turn back time, they would have got a Russian. A temperate species that brumates would be more ideal I think
My leopards act the same inside or out. One likes to sleep more than the other but that's even true during the summer months when they can come and go inside or out whenever they want.
The room is what needs to be considered and if they can afford the extra electric bill.
Littleredfootbigredheart
Well-Known Member
Don’t get me wrong, nothing wrong with it! I just think it more ideal to go with a brumating species when somewhere with long winters, nothing beats the outdoors and I really wish we were somewhere that could safely keep squirt outdoors year round. It’s just my take though, so long as they’re provided with everything they need, there’s zero issues, I think it’s just more a practicality thing for me
@Cathie G may be from your climate or give good advice on it re: tortoises
My leopard is inside because I worry about animals outside. I've had him 18 years and he is great. I do take him for walks in my yard. I also have a desert box turtle inside. Paxton takes up less space and is very entertaining. Have you ever thought about a box turtle?
He should be outside when weather permits. Most animal worries are at night and that's when the tort should be locked in a night box, shed, or brought inside.
Even if you think you need to worry about animals during the day, a chicken wire or hardware cloth fencing would fix that.
Tortoises should be able to live outside when weather permits.
Thank you, I am aware. He has an outdoor enclosure too.
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I'm not an expert but I can tell you this I really don't believe bigger is better. A Russian is fun as heck and can teach you a bunch. But like others have said if you have the cash and want a larger one that would be wonderful too. Tortoises are a lifetime pet. I'm glad I chose a Russian but a hermans would have been a good choice too. I'm a small person and a large tortoise wouldn't have been a good choice for me now that I'm older but also when I was young. I wouldn't be able to give the best of care to a large tortoise. In the summer I carry my Russian in and out daily and the weight of a large tortoise wouldn't be feasible. So it's up to you what you know you can maintain for many years to come.
Renee_H
Well-Known Member
Everyone will have their own opinion on this and I’m too new to say one way or the other. I am a relatively new keeper of a 15” leopard tortoise. She’s in her mid 20s. I personally couldn’t imagine having to keep her inside in an enclosure or even in a shed. I only say this because each morning when I open her night box she charges out and looks angry(yes I know this is probably in my head) but she’s at the door ready to get out immediately. She stays outside all day taking naps here and there but most of the day she up down and around her enclosure and back again. She’s very very active much more than I ever imagined she would be. She stays out all day and doesn’t head back to her night house until sunset. Currently she’s out and about from about 7:30am till 6:45 pm. After she goes in I go shut her door for the night. My enclosure is a decent sized I think but most days I wish I had given her more space. She does tend to stick to the perimeter of her enclosure but more often lately I’ve seen her exploring every inch of it. As far as shed space goes for a shed I would want 12x20 but others may think that’s unnecessary 
