About eight years ago, a trip was made to a Pet Store (can’t remember for what, probably cat food) while there I saw a number of small Leopard Tortoises….I just had to have one of them, so, I brought one home, with a 20 gallon aquarium, to use as a house. That was the start of our time with Graham…(he is named after the author Graham Greene, who somehow, I associate with South Africa, which is where Leopard Tortoises are from)

Graham, when brought home was a little bit larger than Prince, our Box Turtle, since then, he has grown to where he is a lot larger than that, and he has become quite a character. A outside pen has been built for him, and when it is warm (over 75 degrees) he stays outside. When the weather is cooler, he is taken out during the day, and brought inside at night. Unless it rains, he is scared of rain, so we bring him in when it threatens. We are not sure, but think maybe the rain phobia is due to the fact that rain often means it is going to flood…and that worries him.

His nickname has become ‘The Pig’ because we haven’t yet, found anything that he won’t eat. His favorite thing is raw corn on the cob. He doesn’t eat meat, just fruit and vegetables. I have heard that Tortoises and Turtles should never be given Iceberg Lettuce, so I never have let him taste it. He loves Romaine and other Lettuces. I usually have some planted for him.

Graham is supposed to live 100 years, and attain the weight of 100 pounds. I don’t know what will happen then, as he will be too large to carry inside and out…and he will no doubt, outlive me, so I will decide on someone to leave the custody of him.

I have a passel of young Cousins, maybe one of them will take him? I hope.