Tortoise species

[Karlien]

Hi there, I found this tortoise in my garden in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Please could you advise me on what species of tortoise this is and how big it grows. Please could you also send me any other relevant info as well - it will be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[dmmj]

it looks like a leopard but the shell is kind of unusual looking to me

 

[MichaelS]

Wow that is a beautiful leopard tortoise. Ahhh to only live in South Africa and have these little guys just wander into my garden. The South Africa leopard torts can grow pretty big... to about 24 + inches.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome!

That is one of the best tortoises in the whole wide world. I have a bunch of them over here and I should be getting my first babies out of them next year. I like all the leopard tortoises, but the South African type, like what you have there in your hand, is a very special type of leopard. They get larger than most other leopards, they are very hardy, and they tend to have very outgoing personalities.

Here is some captive care info:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

I typed this up for sulcatas, but the diet of the South African leopard is essentially the same:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Please come back and post lots more pics, as this is a very special treat for us to get to see them in their native country of origin. We are happy to help with any questions you might have.

 

[Karlien]

Wow so exciting! Thanks so much! Will definitely post more pics soon.

I also have a homopus signatus, I think thats its name, we call it padloper over here... I would love to breed with them but I can't seem to find someone with a male.

Is it true that you count their stripes to see their age?

Thanks again

 

[mike taylor]

No that's a myth . The only way to know it hatch date .

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum! A gorgeous little leopard tort.

As for its age, I agree with Mike here: I was once told that one can tell a tort's age by counting the rings on its shell, which turned out to be nonsense.

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. As exciting as this is, I do believe it should be left in the wild. They are native to your home and for that reason should be left to live its life in the wild.