will96
New Member
Hi all, I got a 3 month old Leopard tortoise about a week ago. As an experienced aquarist, I should know better than to get a new animal without first knowing more about its requirements... But there seems to be a lot of false info out there on raising these guys. Anyway since getting him at the reptile show I've only seen him poo once in the second soak I gave him three days ago. Not sure whats normal for them. But I didn't know to soak them prior, I've just been doing my research since getting him, and have been doing it daily now for about 15 mins. He eats every day at least a little, but not usually a whole lot, again not sure what is normal, but I'd say on average, the equivalent of a few leaves of spring mix maybe a day (but its been a mix of weeds, grass, spring mix, etc), today almost nothing. I've discovered my night time temps have been too low, once in the mid 60's but mostly more around 70, as I had no heat source in the tank at night. Day time he's got a powersun 80 watt about 8 inches away from the substrate, right below its about 95F. With the tank mostly covered its about 84F where the temperature probe dangling from my raspberry pi is in the picture of the tank. Humidity has ranged from about 44-75% at the same hanging probe in the last 24 hours. I've been reading through the forums and now am a little worried, I was lead to believe they were heartier than it seems they are, and not sure what kind of shape he's in since I haven't had a healthy one before.
Tank is still a work in progress. I just put a cover on it slightly before the temp reached 80F in the pic. Substrate is currently 100% moist coco coir, going to double the volume of it or something similar tomorrow. I'm trying to keep some edible plants in there such as the Gazania which he is eating some. I have a ceramic heat emitter arriving day after tomorrow for the nights, tonight he's got a heating pad under the 60 gallon tank keeping the substrate in the middle about 83F and ambient at 74. Also curious if anyone knows which variety he is?
Tank is still a work in progress. I just put a cover on it slightly before the temp reached 80F in the pic. Substrate is currently 100% moist coco coir, going to double the volume of it or something similar tomorrow. I'm trying to keep some edible plants in there such as the Gazania which he is eating some. I have a ceramic heat emitter arriving day after tomorrow for the nights, tonight he's got a heating pad under the 60 gallon tank keeping the substrate in the middle about 83F and ambient at 74. Also curious if anyone knows which variety he is?