Leopard Tortoise

Leopard Tortoise Latin Name: Geochelone pardalis

Savannahs of Africa from Sudan to the southern Cape.

Leopard tortoises are the fourth largest tortoises in the world and the second largest on Mainland

Africa. They can reach carapace sizes of over two feet in length and weigh over 100 pounds. Most

specimens usually only reach carapace lengths of 15 - 18 inches and weigh 30 – 50 pounds. Males

are sometimes larger than females. Please keep this size in mind when purchasing or adopting a

small juvenile or hatchling leopard tortoise because they will get larger and size is one of the

reasons why these tortoises are offered for adoption.

Like all of the larger tortoise species, the leopard tortoise can live to 100 years or more.

This tortoise has a yellowish or buff colored highly domed carapace with black

blotches. Males have longer and thicker tails then females and have slightly concave plastrons.

Hatchling and juvenile leopard tortoises can be kept in larger aquariums or in mesh

enclosures (such as Repteriums). As the tortoise gets larger a large custom built will be

needed to adequately house this species. A pen size of about 10 feet by 10 feet in size for

a mediums sized tortoise. When possible, it is best for the tortoise to have an outdoor

enclosure.

Leopard tortoises require daytime temperatures of 70° - 90° F. Nighttime

temperatures should be 70

When possible these tortoises do best in outdoor enclosures where they can take

advantage of natural UVB light and heat from the sun. During colder months they will

need to be setup in an indoor enclosure with heat and UVB light. Newer mercury vapor

bulbs can provide both heat and UVB light in a single bulb. Fluorescent UVB bulbs can

also be used for light. Additional heat can be provided with ceramic emitters, daytime

basking bulbs, infrared heat bulbs and even under-tank heaters can be used. Under no

circumstances should a heat rock should be used as they can cause serious burns to your

tortoise.

If kept in an outdoor pen then normal grasses can be used in the pen. Indoor enclosures

can use a variety of substrates such as aspen shavings, compressed paper products (like

Carefresh or CellSorb), newspaper or indoor/outdoor carpeting. Pine and cedar shavings

should be avoided because they can cause long-term health issues.

Leopard tortoises come from a warmer and dryer part of the world and do not do

well with high humidity or cooler temperatures. Because of this fact, these tortoises

should never be hibernated.

This species requires a high fiber diet and should consist of 70% - 75% of grasses and hay. Use a

variety of hays (timothy, alfalfa, orchard grass, etc.) to provide variety. Large amounts of lettuces

and fruits should not be provided, though occasional small amounts are OK. The fruit and pads of

the prickly pear (

The enclosure should be spot cleaned daily. A thorough cleaning should be performed on a

regular basis. A 5% bleach solution is an excellent disinfectant. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the

enclosure before replacing the substrate and placing the tortoise back in the enclosure. It is always

recommended to wash your hands thoroughly after handling the tortoise or cleaning the cage or

cage accessories.