I Got A Breeder

[Tom]

This is my biggest fastest growing 2010 South African Leopard. Because of the split scutes, I incorrectly guessed this one a female, but a few weeks ago she showed me that she was really a HE. This is the second time I have seen him mount another tortoise, but he's not even 2 years old. Didn't have the camera the first time. He's around 1400 grams and 8" long.

The breeder told me about a super duper breeder male that he used to have. The thing was huge and very aggressive, like a typical sulcata male. He couldn't keep any other males with it and "it bounced from female to female like a pinball..." That one was either the father or grandfather of this one. I worried that I would get no males or that my males would be too passive. I guess I can stop worrying...

 

[Edna]

Gotta love the look on that little girl's face! Huh??

 

[TortoiseBoy1999]

This is my biggest fastest growing 2010 South African Leopard. Because of the split scutes, I incorrectly guessed this one a female, but a few weeks ago she showed me that she was really a HE. This is the second time I have seen him mount another tortoise, but he's not even 2 years old. Didn't have the camera the first time. He's around 1400 grams and 8" long.

The breeder told me about a super duper breeder male that he used to have. The thing was huge and very aggressive, like a typical sulcata male. He couldn't keep any other males with it and "it bounced from female to female like a pinball..." That one was either the father or grandfather of this one. I worried that I would get no males or that my males would be too passive. I guess I can stop worrying...

Congratulations Tom!

 

[Eweezyfosheezy]

Nice now lets hope there not all males!

 

[CourtneyAndCarl]

Gotta love the look on that little girl's face! Huh??

I was just about to say that the look of pure joy on the male's face mixed with the utter boredom on the female's cracks me up

 

[Neal]

Let us know if you get any teeny tiny hatchlings.

 

[wellington]

Congrats. They are beautiful leopards. Can't wait to see how big he gets when he is older and the little cuties hopefully you will be getting(fingers crossed)

 

[Tom]

This is VERY premature. He's not even two years old yet. The breeder told me that they can breed as early as 6-7 years old, so I've got some time...

And I have no idea if the object of his affection is male or female. They all still look the same, although a few of them seem to be starting to get a little bit concave on the plastron...

---

Let us know if you get any teeny tiny hatchlings.

... teeny tiny hatchlings... Funny Neal. Funny.

 

[tortadise]

Nice! I have some basin yellowfoots that did that around 3 years old, nowhere close to breeding age or size. Weird how sometimes that happens with strong breeders. Hes gonna be a good one.

 

[Tom]

Hes gonna be a good one.

That is my hope.

 

[JeffG]

That's pretty funny at such a young age , but I'm curious. My understanding is that g.p.b. males are ready to breed at 7"-8". That usually takes 5-6 years for them to get that size, but as with most reptiles, size is more imortant than age. Is this guy growing at the normal rate for a G.p.p.?

Just wondering if he could breed at that size. If they don't normally breed until 6-7 years, how big is the typical G.p.p. male at that age?

 

[Tom]

That's pretty funny at such a young age , but I'm curious. My understanding is that g.p.b. males are ready to breed at 7"-8". That usually takes 5-6 years for them to get that size, but as with most reptiles, size is more imortant than age. Is this guy growing at the normal rate for a G.p.p.?

Just wondering if he could breed at that size. If they don't normally breed until 6-7 years, how big is the typical G.p.p. male at that age?

Your questions really made me stop and think. I emailed the breeder to ask him typical sizes and ages and what size they usually breed at.

I don't know what "normal" size would be. Everyone that I know has always raised them dry and pyramided, so whatever "normal" used to be, ours are going to be quite different I think. Everyone on this forum is raising them with a lot of hydration, and I think most are using a lot of humidity too. Seems like the "average" for all of the ones out of this batch is between 600 and 1000 grams at around two years. Dennis has a couple that are way bigger than this, Tico is bigger, and Tess has some big ones too. I think my group is pretty much in the middle of the range for all the ones that I have been able to keep track of.

 

[JeffG]

I also forgot to say those two are gorgeous! Extremely smooth for that size. It is just amazing to me that they can be that big at that age. Of course I only have G.p.b., but still, mine didn't get that size until 5-6 years. That is a huge difference in the growth rate between the two sub-species.

 

[Tom]

I also forgot to say those two are gorgeous! Extremely smooth for that size. It is just amazing to me that they can be that big at that age. Of course I only have G.p.b., but still, mine didn't get that size until 5-6 years. That is a huge difference in the growth rate between the two sub-species.

Haven't you seen Tico and Hrothgar?(spelling? Sorry Dennis) Both of them look even better than mine, I think. I guess everybodies have turned out pretty darn well.

 

[DeanS]

CAPTIVE EVOLUTION...You gotta love it! When he matures...he's gonna be BADASS!

 

[N2TORTS]

8" and well on his way ........

 

[yagyujubei]

Nice. I haven't seen that here yet. I'm going to have to have a talk with the boys.

 

[Tom]

I've been informed that mine aren't the only ones of this bunch that are doing this now.

 

[DesertGrandma]

Precocious little leopard. They are looking great Tom.