Colouring after a few months

[_simon_]

So I originally joined this forum after finding out my leopard would be better off in a vivarium and wanting to check this advice after spending the first year of his life in an open enclosure.

Here he is in April when I joined. It was mentioned to me elsewhere that he was mostly black because he wasn't kept warm enough.

And here he is today in July

He's been massively more active since moving into the viv, if he's not having a snooze then he's busy plodding around. In his old open enclosure he very rarely ventured away from his basking bulb.

 

[tyguy35]

Could I see a Picture Of your Enclosures Im looking to build one and need Ideas and help please.
How old is your guy cute? Also never herd of that colour thing before.

 

[_simon_]

He's 1 year, 8 months old.

This is his current indoor enclosure 6' x 3' x 3'
Ambient is 80F using 2x 250w ceramic bulbs on a pulse thermostat. Basking is a 50w Halogen giving a centre hot spot of 107.6F. UV is an Arcadia T5 12%.

 

[tyguy35]

Wow did you build that or buy it somewhere I really want it

 

[_simon_]

Just updated the post with the equipment used.

I've bought that, I'm in the UK and one of the companies over here called Vivexotic make modular vivariums, so you can buy one and then add another, and another and another and so on lengthways. So this is actually a 3'x3'x3' main unit with a 3'x3'x3' extension on the side. They come flat packed and you put them together yourself. Unfortunately I don't believe they sell outside of the UK.

 

[tyguy35]

Shoot Ive seen a store carry the vivexotic here but not like that one

 

[Tortoise Hub]

What kind of substrate are you using? Do you have anything like cypress mulch or orchid bark in the UK? Heat has nothing to do with how light or dark a leopards shell is going to be. That enclosure is just awesome if you can change that bedding and get the humidity to the 70-80% range. Also make sure to soak him at least once per day (more if you can) in lukewarm water to get him growing smooth.

 

[Vishnu2]

Your enclosure is beautiful, and your tortoise is looking great. I don't know anything about a leopards color so that is for another member to answer but I did want to comment on how great he looks.. Oh and I did want to suggest changing the kind of water dish you're using. It doesn't look like he can soak in that kind of dish. But, my view could just be poor. What's his name?

 

[_simon_]

The substrate is sterilised topsoil and I spray it to keep the humidity up. I have a digital hygrometer to keep track of that. He can get in and out of the water dish

 

[pam]

Wow love your enclosure and your tort looks great

 

[_simon_]

Thanks

Oh and his name is Zippy because when I went to choose him he was the fastest of the lot in the rush for fresh food lol

 

[leopard777]

does heat really effect the colors of the shell ? always thought as leopard tortoise grows bigger the color just changes ?

 

[_simon_]

does heat really effect the colors of the shell ? always thought as leopard tortoise grows bigger the color just changes ?

That's what I was told but I don't know now. I heard it from a guy that breeds leopards and writes books on how to keep them.

 

[brehoppus182]

Oh, I love this! I want it for my baby!

 

[_simon_]

I know 3' height is a bit of a waste for a tortoise but with the viv sat on the floor it makes viewing much easier. I could take advantage the height with some nice decor to look at, I have my boa and skink is the same kind of vivs and have 3' silk cheese plants in them.

I changed the runners on these just to give the glass a bit more support when they're up against it.

Boa

Skink

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Man I want those cages. I wonder if they make them in the US?

 

[brehoppus182]

Ya if you find a US maker keep us posted

 

[Ethan D]

Man I want those cages. I wonder if they make them in the US?

Try Monster cages, Boaphile Plastics, Vision Cages, Jworlds, Etc..... Some get pricy, especially Jworlds and Custom by Design, but they are pretty cool

 

[_simon_]

Just for your info they're about £120 - £140 for each 3'x3'x3' cube here which I think is about $187 - $218. They're called Vivexotic MODX36. They also produce a MODX24 which is their 2'x2'x2' modular range.

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Man I want those cages. I wonder if they make them in the US?

Try Monster cages, Boaphile Plastics, Vision Cages, Jworlds, Etc..... Some get pricy, especially Jworlds and Custom by Design, but they are pretty cool

I got some huge vision cages but they dont look nearly as nice as these ones. This is something you could have in a living room and not having to worry about guests squinting their eyes at it.