A question about pairs of leopard torts.

TortMomma

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So after rehoming the sulcata and my family being upset. I'm now looking into getting a new tortoise or two. I would love a species that eventually got large, but now sulcata large, so I was thinking a leopard would be a good choice. Plus they're beautiful. I also like the idea that they can be kept with other leopards. So I've been looking into adopting a pair of hatchlings. Is there anything I need to know about keeping them together? I don't want to go ahead an purchase them and find out I need two separate large enclosures along with the two enclosures I already have.
 

Yvonne G

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You just may need two separate enclosures. The only way I've been able to keep more than one tortoise in the same habitat is outside in a large, well-planted habitat. Two tortoises living in an indoor habitat hardly ever works out...regardless of the species.
 

TortMomma

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Thanks for the input!! They would definitely be housed indoors as hatchlings and in the fall/winter as I live in PA. I do have two tortoise pens outside, one of which is used by my russian, and some space to build another.
Also is there any rather large species I should consider looking into?


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise
 

wellington

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The leopard is the fourth largest, so unless you go with a sully, the leopard is the largest there is without going sully size. However, the Babcocki are smaller of the two subspecies. If I were you, unless you do want multiples, I would get three right off the bat. However, if you end up with three males, they would all have to be separated, so one might be best.
 

Levi the Leopard

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Having housed multiple Leopards in multiple numbers (alone, pairs, trios, groups) I recommend you get just 1.

Even if you get a trio to keep multiples together as hatchlings...eventually gender will play a role in determining if they can stay in the same enclosure or if they need to be separated.
If you have 1 male, 2 females are you up for breeding?
If you have 2 males, 1 female are you up for 3 enclosures?
If you have 3 males they might live ok together, they might not.
If you have 3 females they most likely will live together but possibly not.

The only way to guarantee needing just 1 enclosure is to get just 1 Leopard.
They are beautiful and you won't regret it. You'll still have your hands full keeping 1 African species warm all winter long ;)

P.s. In all my experiences pairs were the worst combination. Sometimes there was shell ramming, most of the time there wasn't..but every tine there was a clear difference in behavior from the submissive one in the pair.
 

TortMomma

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Thanks everyone! Glad I asked!


Mommy to:
Nevan- 8yr old human
Arden- Pappillon
Ella-Chihuahua
Toby-Tortoise shell cat
Tinka- Tabby cat
Rex- Ball python
Penny- Eastern Box turtle hatchling
Poppy- Russian tortoise
 

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