Shell Color Question

[TortsUpForHarambe]

Hi guys,

I have been reading here for a while as we were looking to adopt a Sulcata. Well, as it happens, yesterday a friend of my wife's called her and said they had a hatchling that showed up on their doorstep, we live in Arizona and I think her neighbors are breeders, that she couldn't keep His shell is more of a tan color than the pictures I have seen in the past. He is happy, active and eating so from the outside, it doesn't seem like he is in bad shape. Just more curious about his shell color.

Picture attached for reference. Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[Melissa Herman]

Wow! I am no expert, but albino possibly? Are eyes red?

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. The person that has neighbors that breeds them should be asking the neighbors if they had any babies recently and if they look like me this one. If so, the baby should be returned to its rightful owner.
That said, I have never seen one like that.

 

[cmacusa3]

I think it needs washed, looks dusty to me. Give it a soak and softly wash the shell. It definitely has a light color but I would like to see how it looks cleaned up.

 

[Speedy-1]

It does look unusually light , not a bad thing , just different !

 

[TortsUpForHarambe]

Thanks for your respons guys! In response to Wellington, neighbors don't breed, they do have 2 sulcata's but are not actually breeders so my mistake for the misinformation. Wife's friend had the tortoise about a month, also has a tortoise in her Backyard. Gave him a good scrubbing, still has the tan coloration. His eyes are dark, not red. With that said, she had him living completely wrong. Sandy base, no light, no water, etc. we are pretty lucky he is in this good of shape.

 

[leigti]

Is that what they call an ivory sulcata?

 

[RayRay]

Do you have more pictures of them. Some closer up and maybe even a couple while they are wet and being soaked?

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh my...aren't you the lucky one! It's a very unusual color for a baby sulcata. It might be like leigti said, an ivory sulcata.

Be sure to soak him in warm water daily - he looks very dry.