Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it necessary for Leopard tortoise eggs to but put in a state of diapause for a few weeks. Or can they go straight to the incubator. And what temps are you using for the diapause?? Thanks

Leopard Tortoises and the two races of G. elegans Star Tortoises are very closely related, and the G. elegans eggs don't need any diapause period. Their eggs can be placed into the incubator as soon as they are taken from the nests. I would assume the Leopards are the same. Maybe some Leopard breeders can add their two cents' worth as well?

Bill Z

Bill is accurate. These guys go from ground to incubator. Limited humidity required as well. In other words- no need to touch eggs or add water to substrate after setup.

My leopard tortoises, which originated out of Kenya 30-years ago and there offspring (3-generations) do not require a diapause but my leopard tortoises, which originated out of South Africa, do. I let the South African leopard tortoise eggs over winter in the ground and they hatch the following year. The winters are getting too cold here to leave the eggs in the ground (last year we had ice on the turtle ponds, here in southeastern Arizona that was an inch thick) so I may need to make some changes.

The winters are getting too cold here to leave the eggs in the ground (last year we had ice on the turtle ponds, here in southeastern Arizona that was an inch thick) so I may need to make some changes.

If you know where the eggs are laid, you could cover the nest with a patch of hay insulating the nest from atmospheric cooling.

Clearly Al Gore is wrong. Maybe it's because of the pirates.
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