Do shell patterns change as they grow?

In other words, can one identify tortoises by their shell? I found a large one a few years back and now someone is claiming that it is theirs (I advertised extensively) The pic they have shows different plate patterns, not radically, but the marginal scutes do not line up in the same pattern with the costals, and the nuchal scute is now much more pronounced and curved. Am very wary now as last year some loony insisted my tortoise was hers that she lost 10 years ago and 5 miles away; she didn't have pictures but was going to call the sheriff! Sheriff never contacted me ; )
Thanks for any help.

I feel after 10 years it's yours ! But let your heart be your guide.

Do you have the photos available to share?

Hmmm, that's a tuff one. I would say it's yours after that much time. Specially if you did what was right to find the owner way back when. The patterns can change a lot in their younger years, but with my leopards, who is now 5 years old they seem to stay the same. If you found this one at a larger size, I would guess less would have changed.
There's too many dishonest people and many torts have been stolen I'm sure for profit. I'm thinking this person may be trying to scam you or thinks it's there's because of something you said or posted some place.

Too much time has passed and she can't prove it is hers. I don't think you have any responsibility to her.

Sorry for the confusion, another person has claimed it's their tortoise that they lost 2 years ago. But the shell patterns don't match. The loony who lost hers 10 years ago didn't have pics.

What species is your tortoise ? A sulcata ?
Can you show us some pics of your tort and the shell patterns ?
Unfortunately some people try to get tortoises for free by claiming that the tort is theirs.

No, just because I'm paranoid after the previous experience with the person threatening to call sheriff if I didn't return "her" tortoise...I have been told that it is virtually impossible to positively ID tortoise unless they have an unusual shell deformity.

Ellie Mae said:

No, just because I'm paranoid after the previous experience with the person threatening to call sheriff if I didn't return "her" tortoise...I have been told that it is virtually impossible to positively ID tortoise unless they have an unusual shell deformity.

Click to expand...

Shell patterns do not change. New growth can come in different with new patterns, but the central parts of the scutes that were there two years ago will not change other than slight color muting sometimes.

I identify and tell all my turtles and tortoises apart based upon their shell patterns - a scute pattern alignment, a weird growth ring that emerged once, a unique spot on a scute, the pattern the spots make on my spotted turtles. I can tell them all apart.

If you could email me personally the pictures to compare, I will show you what I mean and give you proof one way or the other. [email protected] if you're interested. That way no one else will see the picture to falsely claim the tortoise

If the tortoise was full grown when you first found it, it probably looks almost exactly the same now as it did then. They do a lot of changing from egg to full grown, after than almost none.

Yvonne G said:

If the tortoise was full grown when you first found it, it probably looks almost exactly the same now as it did then. They do a lot of changing from egg to full grown, after than almost none.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your input, all. This tortoise is staying with me!

If you've had it for years and she lost it 10 years ago I wouldn't worry about it. We'd love if you stick around and enjoy the community though. What type of tortoise is (s)he?

The pattern does chanhe but you can still tell .after that long i wouldnt worrie about it .thats your tort now . no proof it was theres and could be saying that just to get a free tort

That was someone else who tried to claim him after having been missing 10 years , now someone who lost theirs 2 years ago but never advertised or answered any of my extensive ads wants to claim him. I'm keeping him, having spent over $400 running electricity to the barn and making him an insulated heated house. Not to mention the $20 for the annual Tile I put on him. Would like to add that the Tile has helped me find him multiple times on my property, (or let me know when he was last seen 6 hours ago and I need to put an APB on him...) The Tile has its limits but for $20 it's worth it. And thanks, I have learned so much from this forum, and have always had my questions answered. I now consider myself SOMEWHAT of an authority, at least amongst the general public who doesn't know the difference between a turtle and a tortoise, not in this crowd though! And he is a 50 lb. Sulcata.

MPRC said:

If you've had it for years and she lost it 10 years ago I wouldn't worry about it. We'd love if you stick around and enjoy the community though. What type of tortoise is (s)he?

Click to expand...

Thanks, have posted many times. 50 Lb. Sulcata!