Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am interested in any information on breeding between a leopard tortoise and a sulcata. So as to not start a hybrid flame war, I am not necessarily interested in actually breeding such a pair; currently I am only interested in talking to those who have tried/succeeded. My female 9 year old sulcata recently laid 11 eggs, and her roommate is a male 9 year old leopard. I chose not to incubate the eggs, but the episode piqued my interest in the possibility. I've heard that it has been done, and I am simply wondering what experiences people have had with this.

For kicks, I've posted a picture of the leopard stalking the sulcata, which happens daily, and of the sulcata covering up her eggs.

Thanks!

Jen Swofford

Yup... you are going to have those that are for, against and those affraid to admit one way or the other.
I'm really sorry you chose not to incubate the eggs. I have seen 2 individual hybrids. I've never seen one raised to adult and I'm really curious to find out if they are mules.
These are house pets and will probably never see the chance of reintroduction into the wild. Where's the harm?
The 2 that I saw had the shape of a Sulcata and the colors of the leopard. In both instances it was the Leopard male that mated the sulcata female. I think that is important in the success.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Well, what ultimately made my decision was that I do not own an incubator and there was no way I could/would create a homemade device that could keep the eggs at the proper temperature for 8 months -- through three seasons in Chicago. I am researching this now in order to decide whether to have a good incubator ready for the next time she lays. I generally agree that a hybrid captive animal is no "worse" than a purebred captive animal. They're both captive animals that have no future in altering natural populations. However, I have stronger opinions about whether to bring more animals into the pet trade in general. Or not. There are a ton that need homes as we speak. But ... not a lot of leopard x sulcata hybrids. I would think that they'd be sterile too, but that's one thing I'm trying to confirm/deny before going any further. Thanks for your input!

I have seen photos of sulcata x leopard hybrids at up to a medium size in a Japanese publication. Very interesting with some leopard coloration. It or they should be adults by now.