My tortoise Nanda is an african leopard tortoise. She was born around June of 1996. I aquired her at the age of one, on June 4th, 1997. She was three inches long. She was very active, and had a healthy appetite from the first day I got her home. Within a few hours of being in her new home, she tried to eat pictures of green things off the bottom of the kiddie pool that was serving as her pen. Then I offered her grass and peas, which she gobbled up. I had to pre-squish the peas for her.

I feed her fresh plants about half the time, and commercial tortoise food the other half. Fresh plants usually consist of dandelions and clover or other assorted plants from the front yard, plus the occasional fresh fruit such as kiwi or grapes. Her favourite food is definately dandelion leaves, with clover a close second. I once found a four leaf clover while picking clover for her. I offered it to her, and she completely ate one leaf then walked away without even touching the remaining three leaves.

During the summer I take her outside every day to soak up some natural UV, and she eats grass and weeds. She seems to particularly enjoy roaming free in the yard eating live plants.

When I first got her, she wasn't strong enough to eat a grape unless I peeled it and cut it in half for her. Nanda is named after the main character from an Anita Desai novel.

At two years old, Nanda is approximately four inches long.

Photo of Nanda about to bite my thumb.
Photo of Nanda eating a grape.
Photo of Nanda eating blueberries.
Photo of Nanda's shell.