Shell Color Being Hydration Indicator

[EppsDynasty]

This is a question my wife and I have been seeing more and more proof of. We now have 25 Sulcata Torts and we can show this on EVERY one in our group, giving us an idea of 'How' Hydrated they lived prior to us. Every Tort has some color variation from another but we have noticed something that every hydrated Tort has ... Dark Brown.



This picture is of Teddy, a very neglected Tort, he lived on a Kitchen floor for at least 5 years and by their own admission "He did not grow at all, he was this size when we got him." Hydration is SO important to us and we focus on it everyday, we feel it is one of the most important aspects of a Healthy Tort. You can see the dark brown line of new growth, but he also has been Hydrated. Here is another example ......



This is Annie and she was neglected as well when it comes to Hydration. She lived under a Heat Bulb for at least 10 years and weighs less than 5 pounds, but not now. You can see the clear Dark Brown Line here as well, she lived for 2 years with a TFO member and received water to drink and soaks. She then came to us and is soaked EVERYDAY, such torture and Hell she lived through.

We were wondering what the 'Experts' think? We have clearly noticed when we receive a tort and do our thing 'Hydration' ... The new growth is clearly a way darker color than the rest of the shell color. Yes new growth is not 'Tan' but in Torts we have had for almost a year the Dark Brown is still there, while the original shell color is much lighter. We can see this in over a dozen examples of Sulcata's. If this is what we think, it would be a real answer to "Is my Tortoise Hydrated?"

 

[EppsDynasty]

I should add .....
Every Tortoise has outside time, and yet still these dark brown bands of new growth stay Dark. We have ones that were not soaked or even given water regularly but still have Dark Brown shells, but they all come from within 10 miles of the ocean.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think brightness or shine is another factor.

I wonder, how it compares to dry hair (like dead ends), which is usually lighter?

 

[Markw84]

In my experience raising 100s of sulcatas - some up to full adulthood - in a healthy sulcata, the new growth always comes in a dark brown as the scute expands and grows. It takes about 3 years for the dark brown to fade to the lighter brown that creates the base color of an adult. If kept outdoors it was pretty much faded in 2 years. So all my sulcatas had a dark brown "growth ring" from the last year's growth, then a lighter brown ring from the previous year, and still a lighter brown ring from 2 years ago's growth. Then the scute color fades into the lighter brown base color.

So, in my opinion, what you are seeing is the "normal" dark brown color of the new keratin that has formed within the last year of growth. This will normally gradually fade, and in about 3 years that particular section of keratin will be the lighter brown base color of the older tortoise.

Here's one of my 200lb males taken in 2014. The darkest brown is last year's growth.


Here's a couple of 18 month olds taken in 2012. You can see the growth from a year ago fading, and the last year's growth dark brown



Here's another male at about 150lbs. Picture from 2011.

 

[EppsDynasty]

So, in my opinion, what you are seeing is the "normal" dark brown color of the new keratin that has formed within the last year of growth. This will normally gradually fade, and in about 3 years that particular section of keratin will be the lighter brown base color of the older tortoise.

This sounds great but .... What changes the color? Is it UVB that bleaches it out or is it just time? Well if it's time .... does that have something to do with the Keratins ability to hold moisture (Hydration)?

I read an article about how Dehydration in Keratin damages it, and it's ability to retain moisture. In Big Horn Sheep the Keratin in the Horns has been studied showing Hydration a big part of Horn Health. I will take some pictures this afternoon of some of our Torts and their difference in color to help show what I'm talking about. As well look up those articles I am referencing about Hydration and Keratins relationship. Thank You for the response.