Stigmochelys pardalis — Fact Sheet
Stigmochelys pardalis · Leopard Tortoise · Leopardschildkröte
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 35-60 cm |
| Lifespan | 50-100 years |
| Subspecies | Usually kept as one care species |
| Origin | Eastern and southern Africa |
| Activity | Diurnal |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Legal | CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply |
🏠 Enclosure
- Outdoor summer enclosure strongly recommended; adults need major floor space
- Indoor adult minimum: very large heated pen; 200 x 100 cm is only a bare minimum
- Juveniles: open tortoise table, upgraded as they grow
- Substrate: dry soil/sand mix with some digging depth
- Avoid: small glass tanks, damp substrate, weak UVB, slippery floors
🪨 Enclosure furniture
- Hot basking zone + dry cool zone + hides + shade
- Flat stones, dry grasses, edible weeds, visual barriers
- Outdoor grass enclosure is ideal in warm weather
💡 Lighting
- UVB essential indoors
- Best: T5 HO UVB plus separate basking heat or a measured mercury vapor system
- Outdoor direct sun is excellent; glass/plastic blocks UVB
- Photoperiod: 10-12 h with seasonal adjustment; no night light
🌡️ Temperature
Basking spot: 45-50 °C
Warm zone: 28-32 °C
Cool zone: 20-24 °C
Night: 18-22 °C
Do not allow prolonged drops below 15 °C
Use a wide gradient and measure basking surface directly
Avoid hibernation, damp chill, and heat rocks
💧 Humidity & water
- Adults: low to moderate humidity, usually 30-50%
- Hatchlings: slightly higher humidity, usually 50-60%, plus humid hide
- Shallow clean water dish always available
- Juveniles: weekly short lukewarm soaks
- Avoid chronically wet substrate and stagnant air
🥬 Diet
Feed freely:
- Grass hay: timothy, meadow, orchard grass
- Fresh grasses and safe wild weeds
- Dandelion (Taraxacum spp.)
- Plantain (Plantago spp.)
- Mallow (Malva spp.)
- Hibiscus and mulberry leaves
In moderation:
- Clover (Trifolium spp.)
- Endive, chicory, arugula
- Pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato, spineless Opuntia
Avoid:
- Fruit
- Animal products, dog/cat food, dairy, bread
- Legumes and cabbage in large amounts
Supplements:
- Cuttlefish bone available at all times
- Calcium dusting for juveniles and females; UVB still required
🩺 Health — warning signs
- Shell pyramiding → diet, humidity, hydration, or UVB problem
- Soft shell → UVB/calcium deficit
- Nasal discharge or wheezing → respiratory disease
- Swollen eyes → dehydration, infection, vitamin issue
- Refusal to eat → temperature, stress, disease
- Obesity → too little space or too rich diet
Consult a reptile-experienced vet for respiratory signs, shell deformity, injury, repeated weakness, or prolonged anorexia.