The other day I was in Petco grabbing some iguana stuff and I did the normal loop through the rep tanks and noticed they have a "Greek". I put this in quotes because the torts skin was literally pink, but his shell was very Greek colored. I've seen redfoots at Petco before so at first I was thinking it was a mislabeled albino? I dunno. I wish I snapped a pic- any ideas?
Pink skin?
- Thread starter rachael
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One of the Greeks at my work we just recently sold was super pink on his head and arms. The other one who came in the same shipment was very dark.
I'm so perplexed
I read once that a peachy pink tone to skin on Greeks is stress triggered. And then I read that it can also be where they were wild caught, nature's way for them to blend with the desert sand of the location. I guess some desert is indeed peach/pink.
So yes, I agree, what the heck is it? Hopefully, the Greek experts can help us. I have a Greek (unknown which kind) which I got from PetSmart and when I got it, it did indeed have a peachy tone to his neck. Not so much any more. Of the 2 Greeks I bought this has been the easier going one, which acclimated quicker. The other is more gold and more up tight but never had the peach tone. So the questions are, is it stress? or the desert origin? to the experts since we are all wondering.
So yes, I agree, what the heck is it? Hopefully, the Greek experts can help us. I have a Greek (unknown which kind) which I got from PetSmart and when I got it, it did indeed have a peachy tone to his neck. Not so much any more. Of the 2 Greeks I bought this has been the easier going one, which acclimated quicker. The other is more gold and more up tight but never had the peach tone. So the questions are, is it stress? or the desert origin? to the experts since we are all wondering.
The current shipment of Greeks that The big chains have are from Lasko's recent import. Most are middle eastern Greeks that are of the "golden variety" can sometimes exhibit the pink coloration. I know at the store I work at we got in were testudo graeca terrestis.
The Greeks at our Petsmart also have pink/peach/orange skin. Coming to think of it, my own little Greek, Boo, has SOME of that color on the non-scaly part of his skin. His legs are dark, though.
Raymo2477 said:
Thank you Raymo2477, for that import info. I got my two little ones last year so maybe-maybe they are from the same region as this year. Mine have that peachy color on their necks only Katie. Maybe it is due to the sand color from where they came from. Or sand color and stress from the shipping in, both. I can't remember where I read that info or I would share the source of it. Thanks all.
Found this cool picture ... and yep, look at the color of the sand ... same peachy tone! Fascinating.
http://www.arkive.org/greek-tortoise/testudo-graeca/image-G24106.html
http://www.arkive.org/greek-tortoise/testudo-graeca/image-G24106.html
I just bought a greek from petco last week, verry light in color, and has an orange hugh to his skin. verry active and great appetite(altho seems hesetent to expierement on veggies other than lettus and mushrooms). they lied to me tho, and told me he was captive bred, not only that he had worms to boot.
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Dorito! He is awesome. Love his shell. A beauty!
The stress will make them more vulnerable to "bloom". He may have been wormed by the PetCo vet and he is purging them out bit by bit. All good if they come out. Soak. Spa time helps hydrate and eliminate.
For food, I cut things up with scissors or my rose pruning shears and mix stuff together. I had ZooMed Grassland and they would not touch it. Wasted so much at first. It just sat and got thrown away. Finally, light bulb! Mixed in just one strawberry the other day, chop-chop, so they have to eat all that fiber in Grassland just to eat what's left of the yummy smooshed up strawberry. Psyche! My one also loves carrots so I cut some up real fine and mix it in. Tricking them that way, works like a charm. You can also use squash or pumpkin from the can (no sugar one, just pumpkin) or baby foods.
The stress will make them more vulnerable to "bloom". He may have been wormed by the PetCo vet and he is purging them out bit by bit. All good if they come out. Soak. Spa time helps hydrate and eliminate.
For food, I cut things up with scissors or my rose pruning shears and mix stuff together. I had ZooMed Grassland and they would not touch it. Wasted so much at first. It just sat and got thrown away. Finally, light bulb! Mixed in just one strawberry the other day, chop-chop, so they have to eat all that fiber in Grassland just to eat what's left of the yummy smooshed up strawberry. Psyche! My one also loves carrots so I cut some up real fine and mix it in. Tricking them that way, works like a charm. You can also use squash or pumpkin from the can (no sugar one, just pumpkin) or baby foods.
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