RT Head color

[Eloise's mommy]

Eloise has a light head which is fairly smooth with small scales only on the very top of her head. I've noticed several pictures of RTs with darker heads that have larger "Scales" on them......what is the difference? Is age a factor? Sun exposure maybe? Any ideas would be great I'm not worried just curious!

 

[biochemnerd808]

The smart alec answer is: Yes! You are exactly right with your guess: It depends on age, sun exposure, and also on different sub groups or RT populations, from different areas.
Think of humans (same species) having different skin colors, different size noses, eyes etc. - just normal variations.

I am always amazed how no two tortoises are alike (although I have friends who look at me like I'm the crazy tort lady, because they say they all 5 look the same). They each have different shell markings and colors. One of my females has these huge doe-eyes, the other one's eyes are kinda small and a little bulgy (but she's healthy, there's no swelling or discharge). The third's eyes are somewhere in between!

The biggest difference to me was the shiny, almost completely black shell color of one of the RTs I rehabilitated, in comparison to the sunflower yellow shell of one of my females. Again, normal variations of the same species.

Eloise has a light head which is fairly smooth with small scales only on the very top of her head. I've noticed several pictures of RTs with darker heads that have larger "Scales" on them......what is the difference? Is age a factor? Sun exposure maybe? Any ideas would be great I'm not worried just curious!

 

[Eloise's mommy]

I didn't even think of it like different skin colors or physical features that makes sense. I'm glad because I like the way she looks and I don't want her head to turn black!! I also like that she's kind of smooth because it makes her soft to pet...she is the most fantastic little thing!!

 

[biochemnerd808]

Your tort is very pretty! Cute, cute.

In the pic it looks like she might have a little shell rot (probably old)... the somewhat white-ish, more pitted centers of some of her scutes? Maybe some of the experts on here will chip in. You can smear some foot fungus cream on there (not sure how often or how long), or paint on some diluted iodine tincture.

I didn't even think of it like different skin colors or physical features that makes sense. I'm glad because I like the way she looks and I don't want her head to turn black!! I also like that she's kind of smooth because it makes her soft to pet...she is the most fantastic little thing!!