I've been looking for a baby leopard for a little while, and I've finally narrowed my search to 2 animals. There's a local guy who's been working with torts for a while, and currently is breeding radiated torts, but has bred leopards in the past. The currently babies he has aren't his own, but he bought them from other local breeder about a month ago. I want an animal that's past the infancy, in the ~6 month stage or so.
The first is a babcocki/pardalis hybride, about 3-3/4", very active, very friendly and cute. It will rub its head against my finger. Very interactive. However, it has a little pyramiding. It's not terrible, but it's definitely noticeable. For an animal this size, it's enough to annoy me.
The second animal is a tiny bit smaller (about 3-1/2"), and seems to be a regular babcocki. Maybe a tiny bit less active than the first one, and a little bit more why. I played with him for several minutes, at first a little reluctant to have his head rubbed, but eventually got more comfortable with me and let me brush his head. Still not as receptive as the first tort, but close. Excellent eater. Not quite as attracive as the first one, but almost no pyramiding. This tort came from a different breeder than the first.
My decision will be based on whether its' possible for the first tortoise to get rid of most of the pyramiding, and whether regular handling will make the second tortoise as friendly as the first. If I provide the first one with lots of humidity, will I just limit further pyramiding, or will the shell eventually smooth out? Also, is a tortoise's disposition basically set at a young age? That is, will regular interaction make the second baby as friendly as the first?
Thanks!
The first is a babcocki/pardalis hybride, about 3-3/4", very active, very friendly and cute. It will rub its head against my finger. Very interactive. However, it has a little pyramiding. It's not terrible, but it's definitely noticeable. For an animal this size, it's enough to annoy me.
The second animal is a tiny bit smaller (about 3-1/2"), and seems to be a regular babcocki. Maybe a tiny bit less active than the first one, and a little bit more why. I played with him for several minutes, at first a little reluctant to have his head rubbed, but eventually got more comfortable with me and let me brush his head. Still not as receptive as the first tort, but close. Excellent eater. Not quite as attracive as the first one, but almost no pyramiding. This tort came from a different breeder than the first.
My decision will be based on whether its' possible for the first tortoise to get rid of most of the pyramiding, and whether regular handling will make the second tortoise as friendly as the first. If I provide the first one with lots of humidity, will I just limit further pyramiding, or will the shell eventually smooth out? Also, is a tortoise's disposition basically set at a young age? That is, will regular interaction make the second baby as friendly as the first?
Thanks!