Sully Question for the experts

[TortyTom]

Here is a pic of Darwin when he was younger and another pic of him today. Yes I stopped the pyramiding but why are the yellow patches (scutes)still the same size as when he was smaller? Everything is growing except for those? I see other pics and they have large yellow scutes? Is there something wrong?

 

[Ferretinmyshoes]

The yellow center are the original scutes - those were all that made his shell when he hatched. The scutes enlarge from the center outward, so the rings of growth around each yellow spot is the extension of the scute as it grows. The center part never gets bigger though, the scute extends from that point to the next one, which is what allows the whole shell to get larger. The color of the extending part of scute can vary, which is why it may appear that others are larger is the yellow extends through the expanded part. For example, in my sulcatas you can still see the small center original scute, but they have a lot of yellow in the growth around the center part. But not all of them will have the exact same coloration. Yours looks much darker than mine, but not because something is wrong - that's just how he is.

 

[TortyTom]

Thanks! I was wondering if something was wrong. I did an internet search and I did find a couple more dark torts like mine but they seem to be few and far between!

 

[Baoh]

Darker tortoises usually occur, in my limited experience, when the animals are raised primarily inside. They tend to lighten up if they receive a lot of sunlight exposure later on.

 

[lkwagner]

Mine is dark too. I think from being raised primarily inside because I live in MI.

 

[ladyjean22]

Vern is quite dark too

 

[diamondbp]

They grow lighter with time as the get more sun. I think you have a great looking sully. You're definitely doing everything correctly.

 

[Baoh]

They grow lighter with time as the get more sun. I think you have a great looking sully. You're definitely doing everything correctly.

Seconded.

 

[TortyTom]

Thanks everyone and lkwagner and ladyjean22, those are some good looking Torts!

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The yellow center are the original scutes - those were all that made his shell when he hatched. The scutes enlarge from the center outward, so the rings of growth around each yellow spot is the extension of the scute as it grows. The center part never gets bigger though, the scute extends from that point to the next one, which is what allows the whole shell to get larger. The color of the extending part of scute can vary, which is why it may appear that others are larger is the yellow extends through the expanded part. For example, in my sulcatas you can still see the small center original scute, but they have a lot of yellow in the growth around the center part. But not all of them will have the exact same coloration. Yours looks much darker than mine, but not because something is wrong - that's just how he is.

Wow! They are beautiful!!

 

[ladyjean22]

Thanks!

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