Charne
New Member
I have read that Leopard Tortoises don't really hibernate. They park off. They get slower, eat less and sleep more. During the winter time which for us in South Africa is June - August, I should just leave him and just check on him now and again to see if he and everything else is okay. And I should not feed him.
I do feed him kitchen food, but only in the mornings and once a week - over weekends. I also sprinkle calcium powder over his kitchen food. He has more than enough different grasses and other plants in the garden. So he roams as he would have in the wild. Enough water, bushes to hide under and he has his own home.
I have also read and I have done it - when it gets warmer, once a month gave him a scrub with a very very soft brush and diluted Betadine. He is not to happy about it, but I understand why. I work very carefully with him soothing him all the way.
My questions are:
-Can I still feed him until end of May?
-Will he be okay without the calcium powder during the winter months?
-Will he be okay without food during the winter?
-Will he eat a little bit of grasses during the winter when he needs to?
-Will he drink water during the winter when he needs to?
-Will he be okay without the once a month scrub during winter?
Thank you!
Regards Charné, Hendricus and Skillie
I do feed him kitchen food, but only in the mornings and once a week - over weekends. I also sprinkle calcium powder over his kitchen food. He has more than enough different grasses and other plants in the garden. So he roams as he would have in the wild. Enough water, bushes to hide under and he has his own home.
I have also read and I have done it - when it gets warmer, once a month gave him a scrub with a very very soft brush and diluted Betadine. He is not to happy about it, but I understand why. I work very carefully with him soothing him all the way.
My questions are:
-Can I still feed him until end of May?
-Will he be okay without the calcium powder during the winter months?
-Will he be okay without food during the winter?
-Will he eat a little bit of grasses during the winter when he needs to?
-Will he drink water during the winter when he needs to?
-Will he be okay without the once a month scrub during winter?
Thank you!
Regards Charné, Hendricus and Skillie
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