Shell color comparison - the difference the sun makes

[Kristina]

I always find it amazing the difference that sunshine can make in the color of a tortoise's shell.

Here are Kendall and Kasey at a couple of weeks of age. (Kendall is the larger, lighter of the two.) Aren't they cute little buggers?

This is at a couple of months old, having lived their entire lives indoors. Look at how dark the new growth is. Kasey especially is a very dark little Sully.

And here they are after a month or so outside. Their new growth is still darker than their scute centers, but has lightened considerably. Look at Kasey!!!

And here they are after a summer of fun in the sun. They are now about 10 months old. They are growing steadily, and I am very happy with them and their growth. And as you can see, only the newest growth is dark. The rest has really lightened.

 

[Torty Mom]

Wow Kristina, that is amazing! They are very beautiful BTW, love their shell colors!!

 

[Kristina]

Thanks Kendall was a hand-pick, and was almost WHITE as a newborn. Just gorgeous. Kevin (kbaker, who bred them) picked Kasey for me, the opposite end of the spectrum

(On another note, I *just* noticed the large poop behind Kendall in the second to last pic... Nice, Kendall, real niiccceee..... )

---

Here we go, newborn Kendall -

 

[Torty Mom]

Shut the front door!!!! She is sooooooooooo beautiful!!! OMG!!!! Kristina, what a little hunk of tortie love right there!!! Hmmmm where do you live again???? Oh that's right, stealing is bad.......

 

[Kristina]

HA HA! I love that expression, cracks me up every time!

I am 2,286 miles away... good luck finding me, lady!!

 

[dmarcus]

Kendall as a new born was very lovely

 

[Yvonne G]

Kendall as a new born was very lovely

He looks so fragile.

 

[Torty Mom]

HA HA! I love that expression, cracks me up every time!

I am 2,286 miles away... good luck finding me, lady!!

Hmmm ya worry, I get 2 weeks off for winter break........ You should lock your front door...... Blahahahahahahahahahah

 

[Kristina]

Kendall as a new born was very lovely

He looks so fragile.

I think they all do, but nothing ever scared me more than my Greek when I got her - 5 weeks old, 7 grams, and the size of a quarter. I was so afraid I was going to accidentally kill her somehow. Made getting my first Star tortoise a little easier, I think, lol.

HA HA! I love that expression, cracks me up every time!

I am 2,286 miles away... good luck finding me, lady!!

Hmmm ya worry, I get 2 weeks off for winter break........ You should lock your front door...... Blahahahahahahahahahah

Ain't scurred I got a Shar Pei that would tear your legs off before you got in the house, LOL.

 

[chase thorn]

simply stunning!

 

[Tnewton]

Awesome color, wish my hatchlings would start getting darker

 

[ascott]

They are simply stunning.....

 

[l0velesly]

WOW! That's a nice difference. I love their light shell colors!
Kendall was a cute baby!

 

[kbaker]

Update well over due! ;^)

They look fantastic. How is Kasey's personality? Still a little booger?!

 

[Kristina]

Oh yes Kasey wouldn't know what to do without being a booger. That includes daily trashing of the enclosure and using Kendall for a launch-pad, lol.

Glad you approve

Going to have to update on Los Tres Amigos now very soon too, or Tom may skin me alive, lol.

 

[Claireabbo]

awww!