Leopard Tortoise – Geochelone pardalis
Today are amazing journey takes us to Africa. Our travels take us to Southeastern Africa. They like semi-arid thorny environments and dry grasslands. Leopard tortoises grow to 16 to 23 inches long and can weigh 22 to 88 lbs. They can live for 50 to 150 years. They feed on grasses, fruits, thistles, and other plants materials, but they will also bones. Why bones? Leopard Tortoises will also eat fungus. They nibble on bones to extract the calcium and other minerals needed for healthy bones and a healthy shell. Since we are on the subject of the shell, each tortoise has his or her own shell pattern. They spend the hot parts of the day in their burrows. They may even travel to find food during periods of drought. The males use musk to attract females. Leopard tortoises also use that musk to repel predators. A female leopard tortoise will lay 5 to 7 clutches of anywhere from 5 to 30 eggs laid from May to October. Females are known to urinate on the ground to make it easier to bury the eggs. It takes 490 days for the eggs to hatch once laid. Babies will wait for the rains before digging themselves out of their nest.
It's funny but animals never fail to amaze me. For all I know about nature, there is always something that I don't know. I mean how cool is it, that the Leopard tortoise uses it's own body waste to soften the ground before laying her eggs. To me, it is pretty amazing. Does anyone else think that nature is pretty amazing?? I know that I do. So yeah, that is my thought for today. OH wait no it's not!
I want to talk about the pet trade for second. It's super, super important that if you're going to be buying an animal that you make sure that the animal isn't wild caught. I know, there are times when it's going to happen. In my own collection, I have two animals that were wild caught. I'm not proud of it, but it happens, however, we need to do everything we can to avoid wild caught animals. Don't be afraid to ask your pet shop, your dealer, if the animal is wild caught or not. I think that is what I love so much about getting babies. I'm pretty safe from having to a wild caught animal. Removing an animal from the wild and bringing it into your home isn't a good idea. One, you can introduce disease or disease carrying organisms into your home. You may not get sick but you're other animals could get sick. If you keep parrots and you bring home a parrot that is wild caught, that animal could bring sickness into your home. Two, removing an animal from the wild removes breeding stock. Animal populations need to be able to breed otherwise they become endangered.
Finally, Don't call me a hypocrite! I had no control over the animals that I have they were freebies that I got from my favorite invert dealer. All the other animals in my collection, I got as babies or have to be breed in the U.S. in order to sell. I'm not going to defend myself, so talk to you later!
Recent Comments