Two generations of captive-hatched leopard tortoises, Geochelone pardalis babcocki
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Published source details
Coakley J. & Klemens M. (1983) Two generations of captive-hatched leopard tortoises, Geochelone pardalis babcocki. Herpetological Review, 14, 43-44.
Published source details Coakley J. & Klemens M. (1983) Two generations of captive-hatched leopard tortoises, Geochelone pardalis babcocki. Herpetological Review, 14, 43-44.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Breed reptiles in captivity: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link |
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Breed reptiles in captivity: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles
A study in 1978–1982 in the USA (Coakley & Klemens 1983) reported that captive-born leopard tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis babcocki bred successfully in captivity and produced hatchlings in three of four years. From 1979–1982, a captive-born female produced 11 clutches of 1–9 eggs/clutch. The first five clutches produced no hatchlings, with most eggs breaking during laying. Subsequent clutches produced 1–3 hatchlings and incubation periods ranged from 135–202 days. In 1978–1981, a sibling pair of captive-hatched tortoises were housed together, and in 1981 an unrelated captive-hatched male was added to the pair. Tortoises were kept in an outdoor pen (5 x 3 m) when temperatures remained above 21°C during the day and 10°C at night and were otherwise housed in an indoor pen with a substrate of wood shavings. A heat-lamp was provided in the indoor pen and temperatures ranged from 21–40°C. In, 1979–1982, eggs were placed in a dry air incubator at 30°C.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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