Leopard tortoise

Leopard tortoise is a very popular species. Many turtle lovers like leopard tortoise, but how to choose a strong one? As for leopard tortoises, what aspects should we look at? It has become a headache for the master. Today we will learn how to choose a healthy leopard tortoise.

From the following things, you can infer whether the turtle is strong or not:

The shell is well developed

Never buy a turtle with poor carapace growth. The tortoise's digestive tract requires some special bacteria to maintain normal digestion and absorption functions. Without these bacteria, even though the hatchlings have a normal appetite, their growth will be interrupted or slowed down. From the growth line of the turtle's carapace, you can observe whether the digestive bacteria of the turtle are functioning normally.

The body weight is sufficient and the appetite is good

The turtles that are not healthy are mostly underweight and have a poor appetite. A sturdy little turtle that looks like a pig when eating.

Transparent eyes

The sick little turtle’s eyes were dirty and could not be opened. As long as you find that the turtle's eyes are unclear, one eye or both eyes cannot be opened, it means it is sick. However, some tortoises that live in hot areas, such as red-legged, yellow-legged and other tortoises, have watery eyes, unlike desert-type tortoises

The nostrils are not blocked< /strong>

Nostril obstruction is mostly a manifestation of respiratory symptoms. The nostrils of a normal turtle should be free of penetration and smooth. Turtles with runny noses need to be kept warm and even treated with antibiotics. Naturally, it is best to buy a dying turtle like this.

Brilliant

Although the turtles stay dormant for a long time, they are still full of vitality when they wake up. Owners who keep turtles indoors are often amused by the humorous behavior of the little turtles in the box whenever they pass by the breeding box.

　Skin Speckling

Another characteristic of the South African leopard tortoise is that there are many small spots on the skin. Every hatchling has such small spots on the skin, which does not reach adulthood. Time will pass. The little turtle in the photo has a lot of freckles.

Growth Lines Icon

The growth lines between each turtle plate on the turtle shell will continue to expand outward, and the turtle will gradually grow up. The white spots surrounded by red circles in the photo are the growth line characteristics of the South African leopard tortoise. This distinctive black and white pattern is exactly the leopard pattern that produces the carapace pattern of the leopard tortoise.

Twin Spots on the carapace

There are two spots on the central carapace of the hatchling South African leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis pardalis). A freckle. There is only one common leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis babcocki). Even if they are identical South African leopard tortoises, their carapace patterns are not the same. Not all South African leopard tortoises must have two freckles, but any leopard tortoise with two freckles must be a South African leopard tortoise. As the leopard tortoise grows up, the freckles on its carapace will gradually wear away. In pet stores, the price of a hatchling with two freckles on its back is about two to three times that of a leopard tortoise with common freckles.

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