New Leopard Tortoise

[wasabithetort]

Hey guys I'm a new member and I'm getting a Leopard Tortoise in 2 days. I have don't LOTS of research. I stayed up 18 hours straight researching. I'm always open to tips on what helps your Tort. I live in central Texas and the Tort I am getting is about 2-3 months. I am temporarily using a rabbit cage with a plastic bottom until he outgrows it, then I am making him an outdoors turtle table big enough to fit him when he's full grown. He will eat grass, weeds, flowers, etc. the only thing he will eat from stores is maybe some fruits as treats. I am aware he will get VERY big. If you have any tips please comment below. this is a picture of him today and as you can see he is still very tiny.

 

[Jodie]

The hay substrate makes me very nervous for you. Hatchling leopards need high humidity or they frequently suffer organ damage from dehydration. I would talk to the seller and find a different breeder if he has been kept dry. Search hatchling fail syndrome for more information.

 

[leigti]

Jody is right. I think you need to find a different breed her. Go to the leopard tortoise or sulcata tortoise section for a care sheet on caring for a baby. The care for either species is the same. They need a great deal of humidity and warmth as babies. And if they are not started right they may die no matter what good care you give. You have come to the right place for information. You will need an enclosure that will keep in heat and washed year. Many people recommend what they call a closed chamber. Please do some more research before you get your baby tortoise. There is also a list of breeders here on the forum that you could choose from. And people can give you recommendations of ones who start them out right. Hatchlings are fragile, and although there is never a guarantee, and I would hate to have you start out with one that may just lead to heart ache.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I agree with the above.

I have experienced multiple baby leopards dying from improper starts. It's not an enjoyable experience...

Based on the pictures provided I would pass. But more important than photos, how has this leopard been housed? The care it has received is a BIG factor to consider before buying him.

I raised my leopards in closed enclosures where I could recreate the humid conditions in Africa that a wild baby would experience after hatching. It produced great results and healthy tortoises.

Unless your whole room is hot and humid, I'm not sure how you'll get the rabbit cage to offer the right conditions.

Read through that care sheet and see what changes you might need to make.

Also read up on "hatching failure syndrome" and see if you are tough enough to handle a death should you take this baby and should he be one that suffered from chronic dehydration.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello and welcome to tortoise forum.
I know it seems like a bit of a harsh welcome, but these experienced members are only doing what's best for you.
Good luck with whatever you decide, but do some research here, in the best and most up to date tortoise information site that there is.

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. This forum is all about helping members and their tortoises get the correct information. There are other forums though, that will let you keeping doing everything wrong for those that prefer that kind of useless help. Hope you will take the helpful correct info in the caring manner it is given.
Below in my post are member Toms threads for proper housing of your leopard. The Sulcata threads will also apply to you.

 

[bigbeaks]

Hello and Welcome. This forum is all about helping members and their tortoises get the correct information. There are other forums though, that will let you keeping doing everything wrong for those that prefer that kind of useless help. Hope you will take the helpful correct info in the caring manner it is given.
Below in my post are member Toms threads for proper housing of your leopard. The Sulcata threads will also apply to you.

This person came "here" asking for help. Why would you bash another forum like that? There is enough room in this world for more than one tortoise forum. No one can ever know too much about tortoises. We will never know everything about these amazing animals, and to suggest someone can't go some where else to ask opinions or questions is ridiculous.

 

[leigti]

@wasabithetort I know this can feel very overwhelming. You're very excited to get a tortoise and it sounds like we are all raining on your parade. But it is all meant to try to prevent heart ache later. I have read many forums, books etc. and I guarantee this is the place with the best information. There is a lot of conflict in information out there. Jumping from site to site will only confuse you. So please consider staying here on this site and doing your research. I was confused by the information at first also, I did a few things wrong for the first few months. But I had an adult Russian, they are very hearty even though mine came to me and not the best of shape she was still hardy enough to be fine with my inexperienced care. Hatchlings are a whole other story, they are fragile and require very specific care. Pet stores many forums and even veterinarians will give you wrong information. Maybe we sound conceited making these claims but they are true. Sometimes we can seem to come across a little harsh but we only want the best for your tortoise. ofPlease do some more research and then when you get your new tortoise give us an update. This forum is here to help you.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

One of the other great things about Tortoise Forum is that one can criticize a moderator and not get barred.
I think Wellington was simply saying that sometimes we sound critical but are only trying to help. Some other forums on the net just spout platitudes and say ' what a pretty tortoise', without giving any care advice, or give old information which may now be outdated. Of course some forums can be useful also.
But I firmly believe this is the best.
Sorry, Barbara, if I'm answering on your behalf, but you probably already know I"m difficult to shut up.
wasabithetort, please ask if you have any questions, we only want what is best and you and your owner are very welcome here.

 

[wellington]

This person came "here" asking for help. Why would you bash another forum like that? There is enough room in this world for more than one tortoise forum. No one can ever know too much about tortoises. We will never know everything about these amazing animals, and to suggest someone can't go some where else to ask opinions or questions is ridiculous.

They can if they want, didn't say they couldn't. Been there done it in the beginning and this forum is the place I found that gives the correct info as soon as they can. Some don't like it, I happen to and wished I had found it sooner.

 

[wasabithetort]

I saw a lot of comments on my last post that hay hurts leopard tortoises so I am taking their advise and getting a Sulcata tortoise that lived in partly grass hay, which a lot of people say is okay for them. Thank you all for potentially saving me from that heartache and confusion. the picture below is the Sulcata I am considering getting. If there is something wrong with this habitat please let me know. Thanks!

 

[wellington]

You hit it right on the head, thanks.

 

[wellington]

Sultanas and leopards are kept the same way. Please, if you read the threads below in my post, you will understand how to house both of them and then you can decide which you want. A Sulcata needs a lot more room then a leopard, although a leopards still needs a lot and a Sulcata needs a much bigger hide and stronger enclosure fencing when big.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ. Why not get your torts throught the TFO , so you know they have been raised the right way !

 

[wasabithetort]

Sultanas and leopards are kept the same way. Please, if you read the threads below in my post, you will understand how to house both of them and then you can decide which you want. A Sulcata needs a lot more room then a leopard, although a leopards still needs a lot and a Sulcata needs a much bigger hide and stronger enclosure fencing when big.

I looked at a lot of websites and none say that grass hay is bad for Sulcata tortoises but alfalfa hay is. Also, all of them said that hay is okay for leopard tortoises. The leopard wasn't only kept in hay, it had options as to which climate they wanted. The pictures were just took in the hay area.

 

[wasabithetort]

I'm still getting the Leopard tortoise. I know a lot say that hay is bad because it's not hydrating but this guy gets very hydrated and has options as to which climate he wants to be in such as wet, damp, and dry. It gets soaked everyday to stay hydrated. I am not worried about it but thank you for your advice, I do understand your concerns he will have options here for wet, moist, and dry but it will be top soil. Yes it will be hot and humid in the room he is in. Thanks!

 

[leigti]

As adults they eat the hay which is fine. As babies, and as adults, when they are around the hay walking in it digging in it etc. it dries them out. And if it gets wet it can grow mold which is very bad for the tortoise. As an adult it is fine for the tortoise to have a choice where to be. But as a baby you need to make those decisions for it just like you would a human baby, a puppy whatever. People on this forum have been raising leopards andsulcata's for decades. They've made all the mistakes and they can now save you from making them too. Please don't rush into anything. If everything goes right you will have this tortoise your entire life, so a week or two more of research right now won't hurt.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Owning a leopard tortoise is awesome. I'm a very proud owner of 1

Keep us in the loop on how things go for you. Even though you are doing things differently than I would, I would still be happy to hear things go well.

If you have questions, feel free to ask. We will answer based on our experiences- but ultimately this leopard is in your care and you are responsible for it.


Have you picked a name yet?

 

[wasabithetort]

His name is going to be wasabi because from what I heard about him he's way nicer than people expect him to be (like wasabi doesn't seem so hot until you try it) haha cx

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi @wasabithetort , and welcome to the Forum!

That's a really cute little leopard tortoise baby. If you get him and set him up in a warm, humid environment (not a rabbit cage), you probably can overcome the damage done by his dry start in life. Hay is NOT a good substrate, as you can't moisten it. Baby leopard tortoises hatch out in the monsoon season, and the heavy moisture and many, many growing plants during this season keep them hydrated and growing smoothly. Because they are so small, and it's so hot, they dehydrate very quickly. So we have to make sure to keep them hydrated. We have some very good reading for you, shown at the top of our Leopard section.

Be sure to put up pictures when you get this new baby.