The leopard tortoise is one of the most popular types of tortoise to keep as a pet, mainly due to its attractiveness due to the patterns on its shell, from which it gets its name in the first place. The pattern becomes less pronounced as the turtle ages, but the adults still look pretty good, even if they aren’t as conspicuous as the young.

These are large turtles, and there are very few larger species that are commonly kept as pets. This can create some problems as obviously not everyone has room for one of these animals in their garden. They also don’t hibernate, so if you live in an area that gets cold during the winter, you’ll need enough space to keep your pet inside for a few months each year.

Once you’ve gotten over the temperature issue, most of your requirements in an outdoor enclosure aren’t too difficult to meet, but a common stumbling block is the hidden box. At night or during bad weather, the tortoise will retire to the hiding box to sleep or shelter, and it needs to warm up, insulate itself and keep out the light. For a fully grown adult leopard tortoise, one of the best options is to convert a garden shed, although if this is done right and it is large enough, you could house your tortoise in this shed for the winter as well.

It goes without saying that buying one or more leopard tortoises is a serious commitment. Your new pet may well outlive you to begin with, and many people survive for over 70 years. They are also not a cheap pet to have. Actually buying one is not too expensive, although they obviously cost a lot more than a hamster. The main costs stem from your care, especially for people living in colder climates. The prices for UVB lamps, a safe heat source, insulation for the hide box, and the energy to run all of these things can add up very quickly to make owning one of these animals prohibitively expensive for many people.

This all sounds pretty negative, but if you have the space and money, owning a leopard tortoise can be surprisingly rewarding. They are more entertaining than you think and have clear personalities. They will even become noticeably more affectionate with their owner than with strangers, making it possible to build a bond with one of these creatures, which can only be a good thing in a lifelong companion! If you’ve never owned a turtle before, then one of these is a good option, but first you need to make sure you’re ready and have everything you need.