Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm thinking of buying a leopard tort and thought I'd hear what somone with experience has to say about them. Anything odd or special with them? I've had yellowfoots before, are they much different.
Also curious about how large they can get. Is 12 inches a normal size or much larger?
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Jason

I don't keep leopards, but my understanding is that they average between 15" - 18" and about 40lb - 50 lb as adults. And some can get as large as 24" and 70lb. I think I've heard that the pardalis pardalis produce the largest males, and there is a record of one reaching 656mm and 43kg (that's about 95lb). You will need a very large area to keep them in, and as they do not hibernate, be prepared for very expensive electricity bill in the winter.

I would think twice about having any of the larger species of tortoise, but you might want to join this group (there will be lots of people with experience there):
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/leopardtortoise-uk/

Nina

Thats larger than I was looking for. Do you have any suggestions for somthing that would max out at say 10" and not cost hundreds.
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Jason

Look into:

Russians,
Hermanns,
Greeks,

Those are the most common,

Also: a little harder to keep,

Egyptians
Spider,
Hingebacks

Best bet for cheaper hardy tortoise would be a russian or hermanns, Personally i would go with a hermanns if you can find a western hermanns that would be cool.

Kyle

Thanks...I have looked a bit into russians but my wife was really interested in the leopards until i told her about the size.

Thanks again for the help, I'll definetly check all those out.
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Jason

I don't know where you are in your life but when you are looking at tortoises you have time.

Leopards are usually the slowest growing tortoises of the tortoises in general.

I've got one that I hatched out just short of 20 years ago. She is a little under 10 inches SCL.

Leopards can get big but to say there is an average size is out and out wrong. If you are comparing WC imports then you might be able to come up with an average size but the range and the varience of the leopard is so great I really don't think you can call them a large tortoise.

They can be delicate but the worry about dealing with the size is totally unnecessary.

I've been keeping them for well over 30 years and they are my greatest joy and greatest heartbreak.

I've got some notes I have written up that I'll be glad to pass along if you email me directly.

>>Thanks...I have looked a bit into russians but my wife was really interested in the leopards until i told her about the size.
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>>Thanks again for the help, I'll definetly check all those out.
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>>Jason
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care