Pets Leopard Tortoises - The Right Pet For You?

tr> The Leopard Tortoise is one of the preferred types of tortoise for pet owners, chiefly due to its beauty as a result of the patterns on their carapaces, which their name stems from originally. This pattern becomes less clear as the creature ages, although most adult individuals still look very good.

Leopard Tortoises are among the largest species, and there aren't many bigger species that are regularly bought and sold. This truth frequently causes a few difficulties because it is clear not everybody has space for one or more of these pets in the yard. What’s more, they never hibernate, thus if you live somewhere that may get chilly in wintertime, you will need a sufficiently big area to keep the animal inside for several months annually.

Once you can overcome this temperature issue, most of their demands in their outside habitat shouldn’t be too awkward to cater for, however a common issue comes with providing them with a shelter. Overnight or during bad weather outside, your Leopard Tortoise should want to go into its hide box to slumber or protect itself, and the box should then be kept warm and dark. For a large tortoise, one of the best possibilities is to use a garden shed, and if you do this well, and it’s roomy enough, you can also potentially leave your Leopard Tortoise in the shed for the cold months.

Of course getting one or more of these animals is a serious commitment. For starters this pet may well outlive you, with many Leopard Tortoises living for considerably longer than their owners. These tortoises are furthermore an expensive creature to care for. Buying a Leopard Tortoise isn’t likely to be exorbitantly expensive, although obviously they cost much more than a gerbil would. The primary financial demands come from their care, particularly for those living in chillier climates. The prices of UVB lamps, a reliable source of heat, suitable insulation for the hide box as well as power to do something with all these things will add up pretty fast, which can lead to possessing one of these pets becoming excessively pricey for a lot of individuals.

All of this is starting to sound pretty bad, though when you have enough cash, owning one of these creatures will be surprisingly rewarding. These animals tend to be more engaging than you might assume and they possess clear personalities. Most usually become noticeably more sympathetic towards their owners or food-givers than to other people, so many people forge a connection with their Leopard Tortoise, and that is obviously what you want in a lifelong friend! If you have never looked after any reptile before now then one of these animals would be a brilliant choice, although you should be be positive that you are ready from the beginning, and it's worth taking a look at some of the alternative pets out there first.