How to Raise a Leopard Tortoise Properly? Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Precautions

The leopard tortoise is a reptile of the order Testudines, family Testudinidae, genus Stigmochelys. It likes to live in semi-arid, thorny grasslands. It is currently becoming increasingly popular among home reptile enthusiasts and has been bred in large-scale captive operations, but we should still pay attention to how to raise it. Whether it can be raised well depends most on the arrangement and control of the environment. Let us take a look together below at how to raise a leopard tortoise!

Is the Leopard Tortoise Easy to Raise?

The leopard tortoise is easy to raise. Generally, a 7 cm leopard tortoise is relatively the easiest to raise, but for beginners it is recommended to keep one over 10 cm. It is not difficult to raise; keeping a constant temperature of around 30°C and having a tortoise box or simply free-ranging it both work. With proper care, a leopard tortoise can live a very long time, even longer than a human lifespan. In the reptile pet market, it is the most famous captive tortoise species suitable for keeping and breeding.

How to Raise a Leopard Tortoise

1. Environment: Leopard tortoises like and need a large space for their enclosure, because if they are penned up in a very small environment they will lack exercise. All fences must be firmly locked. Generally, an 80*45*40 cm box can allow 2 leopard tortoises to grow to 20 cm, after which you can choose free-ranging or switch to a larger box.

2. Equipment: For leopard tortoise care equipment, you need to equip UVB and a heating spotlight, and that is enough. Turn on the UVB when feeding, then keep it on for 5 to 8 hours.

3. Temperature: The keeping temperature for leopard tortoises is between 25 and 32 degrees Celsius, and it is best to have a day-night temperature difference. A temperature of 28 to 30 degrees is appropriate.

4. Soaking: Leopard tortoises need regular soaking to promote the excretion of uric acid and prevent stones, though they generally do not develop stones, but you should still soak them every day if possible.

5. Feeding: Leopard tortoises are completely herbivorous, but they need regular supplementation with calcium powder and multivitamins.

6. Exercise: The leopard tortoise is a tortoise species and needs a moderate amount of exercise. Therefore, on warm and mild sunny days, you should often take them outside to walk around.

Common Problems with Leopard Tortoises

1. Lethargy: First of all, the leopard tortoise is a species that sleeps more than other tortoise species. Secondly, leopard tortoises live in Africa, and now that the weather is turning colder, the lack of sufficient sunlight is also one of the reasons for lethargy. It is recommended to turn on the UVB for 5 hours every day and turn on the sun lamp for 1 hour. Do not begrudge the money, because since you are keeping this lovely creature, you must invest in it.

2. Eye problems: Some people say the leopard tortoise does not open its eyes, which may be because you have lowered the humidity too much; generally 40 to 50°C is fine. Do not be afraid if a leopard tortoise has eye problems. If the eyes can still be opened, use chloramphenicol eye drops. Apply twice a day. If the eye problem is severe and the eyes cannot be opened, you can apply some chlortetracycline eye ointment. It generally gets better within a week.

3. Cold: Do not use medication for a leopard tortoise's cold first, because a general minor cold can be resolved through its own regulation. Do not resort to force-feeding medicine at every turn. A tortoise's metabolism is very slow and its body is completely different from a human's, so warming it and letting it rest quietly is the best approach. You can add some VC and some electrolytes during soaking, and the tortoise will slowly recover.

4. Diarrhea: Everyone knows that diarrhea is the most common problem in leopard tortoises. First of all, you must pay attention to the food. It is recommended to stop feeding sub-adult leopard tortoises one day per week; this benefits the intestines. Do not feed them cold food; feed them food with less moisture, such as ryegrass, leaf lettuce, sow thistle, sweet potato leaves, hay, dandelion, plantain, etc. Side dishes include rapeseed, cabbage, carrots, etc. You can give more cabbage, but at the same time note that cabbage also tends to cause pyramiding. Some tortoise keepers like to feed some tortoise food; tortoise food can be given, as it contains some trace elements and calcium, but it should be given in moderation.

5. Nematode disease: The most troublesome thing about nematode disease is that you have to frequently "deworm." Once nematodes survive in a leopard tortoise's stomach and firmly establish themselves there, it may become a prolonged battle.

6. Pneumonia: Pneumonia is often caused by poor control of keeping temperatures or severe environmental stress. Prompt veterinary treatment is essential. In many cases, oxytetracycline (50 to 75 mg/kg) or Baytril (2.5 to 10 mg/kg) is injected subcutaneously. During treatment, you must provide them with a warm, dry environment, especially at night. These are the most basic treatment conditions.