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Geography
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In the wild, leopard tortoises have an impressively large range. They can be found in Sudan down to the Cape Province of South Africa. In the wild, this breed of tortoise primarily feeds on grasses, weeds and cacti.
Features
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The leopard tortoise needs to be fed a diet that is high in fiber and low in protein. They also need to have a diet that is supplemented with calcium, which facilitates their growth and shell development. A typical diet for a leopard tortoise includes orchard grass, timothy hay or Bermuda grass, leafy greens and cactus pads.
Time Frame
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Unlike some species of tortoise, the leopard tortoise will not go into hibernation. It will continue to eat all winter, and because of this, food should always be available to the leopard tortoise, even if it is not eating as much as it did during the warmer months.
Considerations
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Calcium supplementation is essential to the growth and health of leopard tortoises. Powdered calcium is available from most pet stores that cater to the reptile trade and it can be sprinkled on the tortoise's food. If the leopard tortoise is kept indoors, the calcium should be amended with vitamin D3, which is produced from regular contact with sunlight.
Warning
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Never feed a leopard tortoise dog or cat food. Tortoises that are fed on dog or cat food, which is very high in protein, will frequently die from renal failure or from impacted bladder stones. Similarly, fruit is not something that is a regular part of the leopard tortoise's diet in the wild and should be fed sparingly if at all.
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Leopard Tortoises' Diet
According to the World Chelonian Truast, the leopard tortoise, known scientifically as Geochelone pardalis, is one of the tortoise species that is most commonly kept as pets. This species is widely distributed through the African savannah, and adults can grow to be more than 16 inches in height and weigh in at 40 pounds. Learning more about the leopard tortoise's diet can help you make important care decisions for your pet.