color change?

[DAC8671]

When do sullys turn "dirty brown"? Ralph is different shades of brown, but he's still young (4 yrs). The larger ones I've seen are dusty/dirty brown color. Basically, no color.

Side note, I went into a pet shopt today and saw a variety of torts and turts. The larger sullys were walking around in an enclosure with bard as the substrate. The water dish was a rubbermaid tub, small for dishwashing, but too tall for them to get into. I also saw some leopards. I don't know ANYTHING about leopards, but they all looked to have some pretty moderate pyramiding. In fact, the only "healthy" looking torts were the sully hatchlings.

Do pet store get inspected? By who? How often? What are the standards? I would take them all if 1)I knew each species husbandry, 2) if I had the $$ (the larger sullys were $900)

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Why don't you print out some care sheets, I'll post links, and ask for the manager and explain to him how Sulcata should be cared for and just exactly what you think is wrong with his tort keeping. He might just need a little educating. So try that, then if things don't change we'll bring in the big guns!!!
I think a Sulcata's color would be affected by the sun and how much or how little sun exposure the tort is getting. Maybe even the food he's fed would affect his color...
and would you mind telling this inexperienced person what 'bard' is?
Leopard carapace's are not normally smooth like Sulcatas are. What we would consider moderate pyramiding in Sulcata would be considered normal in a captive bred leopard, I do not believe they are smooth in the wild...but Danny will be ever so glad to tell me I'm wrong, it's how he entertains himself...

http://africantortoise.com/

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/sulcatacare.htm

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/pardaliscare.htm

 

[egyptiandan]

Oooooooooooooooooooooo entertainment

It is the amount of light and heat that affects the color of a sulcata's shell. The more heat and light the lighter the shell.

It is very possible to raise a smooth Leopard tortoise. There are also smooth ones in the wild. Just takes a bit of effort.

Keep them coming Maggie I'm at work and need some entertaining

Danny

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Oooooooooooooooooooooo entertainment

It is the amount of light and heat that affects the color of a sulcata's shell. The more heat and light the lighter the shell.

It is very possible to raise a smooth Leopard tortoise. There are also smooth ones in the wild. Just takes a bit of effort.

Keep them coming Maggie I'm at work and need some entertaining

Danny

Well; heaven knows I certainly DO keep you entertained, don't I?!

 

[DAC8671]

Oops I meant bark, not bard. hehehe

I think I may go back to the pet shop and take some pics, post them here, then see what my next step is. I am BY FAR an experienced keeper. But what I saw just didn't look "right".

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Oops I meant bark, not bard. hehehe

I think I may go back to the pet shop and take some pics, post them here, then see what my next step is. I am BY FAR an experienced keeper. But what I saw just didn't look "right".

Whew!!! I was so thinking I was dumb for not knowing what bard is...Too funny.
When you go back there take the manager those care sheets...