tortoiseforum.org
tortoiseforum.org
Thanks Yvonne! Actually I am temporarily living in Harare, Zimbabwe, where we have moved. So it doesn't snow or freeze here at all. She lives outside all the time. I don't feed her or water her. She lives off the extensive vegetation (including succulents) in the garden.
Thanks Tom. Actually I recently moved from Virginia to southern Africa (Zimbabwe) and this tortoise came with the house. She has never been under a heat lamp and lives outside year-round. The damage that you see on her carapace is the result of an old shell-crushing injury on her other side. I'll post a picture of her fully healed shell soon. It's interesting for me to read all the detailed tortoise care discussions on this site. This leopard lives a completely wild existence inside a 2-acre walled compound. She walks at least 1/4 mile per day, traversing the garden and driveway. She has become very friendly and will come when called and eat out of your hand.There is no way to know unless you know the hatch date. I'd guess somewhere around 15-20 years old.
The top of the carapace is slow-burning under heat lamps, or did sometime in the cement past. This is why heat lamps aren't suitable for larger tortoises. Here are a couple examples of heated shelters that will work better. I don't know if you can keep temps up in these in your area during the frozen winter months, but these will work for the rest of the year:
Single Tortoise Night Box
I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...Double Door Night Box
As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...
and you are exactly right!
