- Joined
- Apr 30, 2012
- Messages
- 29
Hi all, attached are pictures of my 11-15 year old leopard tortoise.
Some background information; I am actually a former zookeeper and specialized in saltwater aquatics and reptiles. I've worked with many shelled friends, from sea turtles to baby desert tortoises.
For my husband and my 1 yr wedding anniversary (10 years ago, married 11), he got me our tortoise. He was from a local petstore; the owner was a reptile reptile keeper at a local world famous zoo, much of his store's collection were bred and raised by local reptile owners and friends, otherwise I would have never been okay with supporting this purchase. Anyways, they said he was around 5, and that he was a male (he's expressed his glands).
He has grown a LOT since we got him 10 years ago; he has tripled in size but is still SO small. His shell is 12 inches from end to end and he is a whopping 8.5 pounds lol. He lives full time outside, we used to bring him inside during the winter but he was a heated house with a thermostat and does well through our short southern california winters. He gets a mazuri LS diet, with daily clippings of grape leaves, rose petals, hibiscus leaves and flowers, grass clippings, romaine, spring mix and so much more.
He has a good diet, eats well, could use a larger pen, has access to fresh water in two places. Is there anything I am missing? Is this genetics? Improper care during incubation? He's otherwise healthy and fiery.
Some background information; I am actually a former zookeeper and specialized in saltwater aquatics and reptiles. I've worked with many shelled friends, from sea turtles to baby desert tortoises.
For my husband and my 1 yr wedding anniversary (10 years ago, married 11), he got me our tortoise. He was from a local petstore; the owner was a reptile reptile keeper at a local world famous zoo, much of his store's collection were bred and raised by local reptile owners and friends, otherwise I would have never been okay with supporting this purchase. Anyways, they said he was around 5, and that he was a male (he's expressed his glands).
He has grown a LOT since we got him 10 years ago; he has tripled in size but is still SO small. His shell is 12 inches from end to end and he is a whopping 8.5 pounds lol. He lives full time outside, we used to bring him inside during the winter but he was a heated house with a thermostat and does well through our short southern california winters. He gets a mazuri LS diet, with daily clippings of grape leaves, rose petals, hibiscus leaves and flowers, grass clippings, romaine, spring mix and so much more.
He has a good diet, eats well, could use a larger pen, has access to fresh water in two places. Is there anything I am missing? Is this genetics? Improper care during incubation? He's otherwise healthy and fiery.