GEOCHELONE PARDALIS

(Leopard tortoise)

He lives in East Africa, the Sahara and from Ethiopia to South Africa with two subspecies: G. P. Pardalis and G. P. Babcoki frequents areas and dry savannah from sea level up to plateaus over 2500 meters of altitude, subject to long periods of drought alternating with rainy seasons.
Often reaches 60 cm. typically 40-45 cm., females reach larger than the males. He has a quiet, usually accepts conspecifici, except for males during the reproductive period.
In captivity you can keep it in a terrarium minimum of 2.5 x 2 meters wide base with openings to ensure good air circulation. The humidity should not exceed 50-55%. Mandatory use of lamps good UV emissions. We use incandescent lamps for the heating of the ternary, the temperature should be 30-32 degrees in the area of "basking", 25-26 degrees in the rest. As background material you can use the hay, shavings and other materials that do not retain moisture. A low bowl for water can be used for two or three days a week. The farm is only possible outdoors in summer farmsteads, in large pens with a mixture of ground sand to make it more dry. As regards food diet consists for the most part from wild grasses to the ground, such as dandelion or dandelion, clover and even wild grass field. Integrating with lettuce, chicory, radicchio red and green zucchini and grated carrots. To increase the fiber content and add alfalfa hay, fruits and avoid foods of animal origin. An important food with calcium and vitamin supplement specifically vegetarian reptiles for a couple of times a week.

It is already playing to a size of 25-28 cm. The male will try to force the female as to blows with the armor and bites to the legs and the head of the female. Once forced the female, the male will rise after the carapace for mating itself. The nest is in a deep pit on average by 25 to 35 cm. The eggs can be laid at least a dozen, 20-25, on average, the incubation at a temperature of 30-32 degrees. The timing of hatching varies widely, an average of 100-130 days.
E 'included in Appendix II of CITES legislation, is threatened in almost the whole range from excessive catches for food, while the eggs and small are epic by many predators (man) is the armor emptied and tanned best , Are used as containers or as a sounding board for some musical instruments.