I "discovered" leopard tortoises in the early 90's. I honestly can't remember when I first became aware that there was a different South African variety, but I wanted them ever since I found out about them. I saw them in the wild both in Johannesburg in 1998 and again in and around Cape Town in 2005. Been in love with them ever since.
In 2010 I finally found a source for captive bred babies. The source I found just happened to be the main guy that had been producing them in the states since 1990. He was a friend of a friend. I was granted the privilege and pleasure of going to his house, getting a tour, and buying the babies directly from him. I am very grateful for that opportunity. You can see the babies here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/2010-south-african-leopard-thread.20528/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/meet-toms-leopard-tortoises.56643/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding-ii-the-leopards.18931/
I raised them to adulthood and I introduced the males and females in the Spring of 2016. I started getting eggs after a month or so, and began the long process of cooling the eggs to break the diapause and then incubation. The first few clutches did not hatch. Disappointing, but not unexpected for young first time moms, and inexperienced males. The eggs pictured below were laid by my female "V-Neck" on October 11, 2016. There are several other clutches that were laid in the weeks after that, and I now have high hopes for those eggs too.
Enjoy the next generation:
4 eggs are pipping as of last night. I will update this thread as things progress.
I can't put in to words the joy, exhilaration, and happiness this brings to me and I'm glad to have our TFO community to share it with.
In 2010 I finally found a source for captive bred babies. The source I found just happened to be the main guy that had been producing them in the states since 1990. He was a friend of a friend. I was granted the privilege and pleasure of going to his house, getting a tour, and buying the babies directly from him. I am very grateful for that opportunity. You can see the babies here:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/2010-south-african-leopard-thread.20528/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/meet-toms-leopard-tortoises.56643/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding-ii-the-leopards.18931/
I raised them to adulthood and I introduced the males and females in the Spring of 2016. I started getting eggs after a month or so, and began the long process of cooling the eggs to break the diapause and then incubation. The first few clutches did not hatch. Disappointing, but not unexpected for young first time moms, and inexperienced males. The eggs pictured below were laid by my female "V-Neck" on October 11, 2016. There are several other clutches that were laid in the weeks after that, and I now have high hopes for those eggs too.
Enjoy the next generation:
4 eggs are pipping as of last night. I will update this thread as things progress.
I can't put in to words the joy, exhilaration, and happiness this brings to me and I'm glad to have our TFO community to share it with.