Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)

Short answers

Leopard tortoise: How big does the enclosure need to be?

An outdoor setup of at least 50 m² (100 m² from the eighth year of life) plus a year-round heatable indoor enclosure or greenhouse of at least 10 m²; a purely indoor room enclosure is only for juveniles.

Leopard tortoise: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 35–40 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Leopard tortoise: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (strong steppe-grade UVB).

Leopard tortoise: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 50–60 years, individual animals older.

Leopard tortoise: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

35–40 °C

Humidity

juveniles humid (microclimate 60–80 %), adults 40–60 %

UVB

Essential (strong steppe-grade UVB)

Enclosure

Minimum size

An outdoor setup of at least 50 m² (100 m² from the eighth year of life) plus a year-round heatable indoor enclosure or greenhouse of at least 10 m²; a purely indoor room enclosure is only for juveniles

Substrate

A soil and sand mix, hay; keep juveniles damper

Feeding

Food

Herbivorous: fibre-rich wild herbs, grasses, hay; NO fruit and no animal protein

Feeding interval

Plant food daily, high in fibre (grass and hay ad libitum)

Key facts

Adult size

30–45 cm, often up to 60–70 cm and 20–40 kg

Life expectancy

approx. 50–60 years, individual animals older

Origin

Eastern and southern Africa (savannah)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B – registration and proof of origin required

Brumation

None (no brumation; at most a cooler rest period)

Cohabitation

Tolerant, and groups are possible given plenty of space. Two males harass each other and the females; under constant courtship a female visibly loses condition. One male to several females, and plan for a way to separate them.

Notes

A pure grass eater – high in fibre, no fruit or protein (otherwise pyramiding and kidney damage). Rear the young damp; it grows very large.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Ploughshare tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora) – Expert
• Speckled padloper (Homopus areolatus) – Expert
• Serrated tent tortoise (Psammobates oculifer) – Expert
• Bell's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys belliana) – Intermediate
• Speckled padloper tortoise (Chersobius signatus) – Expert
• Angulate tortoise (Chersina angulata) – Intermediate
• Home's hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys homeana) – Expert
• Natal hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys natalensis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (An outdoor setup of at least 50 m² (100 m² from the eighth year of life) plus a year-round heatable indoor enclosure or greenhouse of at least 10 m²; a purely indoor room enclosure is only for juveniles), substrate (A soil and sand mix, hay; keep juveniles damper), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.