Hello from a South African

[swalker]

Hello All,

I have recently moved to Mass. but kept and bred Leopard tortoises in my native South Africa for many, many years. Have not had torts for the last 10 years but looking to get something again in the next 6 months or so. Looking at Pardalis, Sri Lankan Stars or Radiated but so, so tough to find true Pardalis in the US. Been searching for 6 months. Radiated are maybe a little dear and Stars seems a little fragile. Ideas welcome.

 

[ascott]

Welcome to the Forum and when you do get your tort---we LOVE PICS

Leopards are an awesome species for sure, very beautiful....

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome

 

[Oogway]

radiated look awesome, welcome to tfo and looking forward to seeing some photos when you have made your choice

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

Wow thats awesome!!! Do you have any pics of the ones you used to keep? And I would contact Tom on here if you are interested in getting some paradalis. And welcome!!!!

 

[coreyc]

Welcome to the forum

 

[wellington]

WELCOME . Tom is the one for leopards. However I think there are others on here, can't remember who. You might want to post in the wanted section. Good luck. Would love pics when you get one and if you have some from when you were in Africa.

 

[tortadise]

Welcome. Stars aren't that fragile. Just much different requirements of south African tort species. You can find some pardalis pardalis. We will help you.

 

[Cadance]

Welcome!!!

 

[Machin]

Hello and welcome

 

[Neal]

Welcome. Stars aren't that fragile. Just much different requirements of south African tort species.

This is our experience as well, in fact quite the opposite as fragile. More prone to RI surely, but a little runny nose here and there doesn't have any lasting effects.

There are maybe just a handful of people who breed "pure" South African leopards. I believe two or three in California and one or two on the west coast. Others are popping up here and there. They tend to lay low, but their hatchlings are available through a few different sources. You might have to wait a few months until you see them more.

Welcome!

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome again...
I know a breeder here in Southern CA that has true South Africans. He bought his founder stock directly from an importer friend of his right when they came in, back in 1990. He has kept them separate and been breeding them ever since. He has found the best way to incubate them is to leave them in the ground. He gets a batch of babies every Summer around late August or early September. I usually pick up a couple dozen from him and resell them here on the forum. They really are special and different from the regular leopards.

How did you incubate yours back home? Did you have to give them a diapause? What part of SA were you in? Tell us what the weather was like in a typical year. I was there for four months in 2005 and one of my SA friends and co/workers lived up in the mountains. He told me the leopards near him hibernated every year. Ever heard of that?

 

[dmarcus]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[pam]

Welcome

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome.

 

[swalker]

Thanks all for the warm welcome. Look forward to chatting to all of you over the coming months and years on the forum.

 

[TORTOISEMAN1]

Welcome!!