Avoid tortoises from private sellers, especially if they can’t provide you with detailed information on the tortoise’s origins and health history.

If you can see the fecal droppings, they shouldn’t be runny.

To find a specialist vet, search online for “reptile specialist veterinarian near me,” or (in the U. S. ) try the “find a vet” tab at https://arav. org/. If you notice any sudden changes in your tortoise’s behavior, or in its feeding or defecating habits, contact your vet for an appointment.

As your tortoise grows older and realizes you are its food and care provider, it may become comfortable enough to eat right out of your hand—and it may even let you pet it sometimes. Some tortoises never become comfortable being held or interacting with people, however. If it hides in its enclosure or withdraws into its shell whenever people are around, simply let it be. They’re still fun animals to watch!

Because of their size, keeping more than 2 tortoises will require a great deal of space—not to mention all the food and supplies!

Don’t leave water standing in the enclosure for more than a day, because it can get dirty and make your tortoise sick. As your tortoise grows, you can replace the soaking by offering a pan of clean, shallow water once or twice a week for your tortoise to crawl into in addition to their everyday water supply. [7] X Research source

Leopard tortoises should never be exposed to temperatures below 60 °F (16 °C), and need ample shade and air movement if the temperature is above 95 °F (35 °C). Because of their large size (and the large enclosures they therefore need) and the warm and sunny climate they require, leopard tortoises aren’t ideal pets in every climate. While you can keep them indoors permanently, it will take a significant investment of time and money on your part to house them properly.

There should also be a “hide box”—an enclosed area that the tortoise can retreat to for safety and some “alone time. ” A doghouse can serve this purpose. Leopard tortoises aren’t much of an escape risk if the walls are 18 in (46 cm) high, but the walls should be solid so they can’t see outside the pen—tortoises can be easily frightened by what they see out there! Up to 2 adult tortoises can be kept in a 10 ft × 10 ft (3. 0 m × 3. 0 m) enclosure, but if they are both male it will have to be larger. To figure out minimum sizing for 2 adults, measure their shell lengths, add them together, and then multiply by 4.

The indoor enclosure should also have a “hide box”—a cardboard box can be made to serve this purpose.

Remove any newspaper or hay soiled by droppings or food daily. Replace all the newspaper or hay (and clean the enclosure) weekly.

Measure your UVB output with a meter like the Solarmeter 6. 2 or 6. 2R, to determine if your bulbs are outputting the right amount of light. Different UVB lights put out different amounts of UVB and types of beams, so make sure you are getting one that’s good for leopard tortoises. [14] X Research source Check that your heat lamps are putting out the right temperature with a digital temperature gun.

In an outdoor enclosure, you might want to plant some grass or alfalfa for the tortoises to eat. [16] X Research source

Cut-up fruit can be offered as a very rare treat, but less than once a month—the high water content would cause gastrointestinal issues if your tortoise eats fruit too often. Iceberg lettuce has next to no nutritional value and is not an ideal food source for a tortoise.

Younger tortoises in particular may like to bathe in the water dish as well. This is fine—just make sure to keep the dish filled and clean, with shallow enough water to prevent drowning.

If you’re diluting the pellets with greens and other food items, the diet may become imbalanced, so it’s best to talk to the vet to set up the best diet plan for your individual leopard tortoise. Provide supplements only if (and how) recommended by your vet. Due to their rate of growth, a leopard tortoise’s demand for calcium and mineral trace elements is high. A calcium-D3 daily supplement might be recommended for juveniles and, less often, adults.