What's the deal with some Sulcata's being golden and then some just being black with golden circles on shell? Could the black ones be breeded with another tortoise? Do you guys have black Sulcatas? Can I see a pic?

[ATTACH]25682[/ATTACH]

Here are my two together. One is much darker than the other and the color differences are getting more pronounced as they get older.

[ATTACH]25682[/ATTACH]

They are both under a year. The darker one is 6 months older. She was rescued from a fish tank and the lighter one came from a pet store.

---

I have wondered this also.

---

Sorry, my pictures posted twice.

That actually looks pretty cool. Is it just different genes then? I might want one like that.

I truly don't know why they come in different colors. The lighter ones shell is more domed and the darker one more flat. I will take better pictures of them in the morning. Those pictures were from two months ago.

I thought that the new shell growth was dark, and changed color to gold as it was "bleached" by the sun

sometime individuals are darker due to lack of sunlight.. but sometimes its just what they are!

I've noticed that a lot of the darker ones lighten up after exposure to sunlight.

So sometimes if they're darker, it means they could be unhealthy?

(08-08-2012 05:41 AM)FlapJackrage Wrote:  So sometimes if they're darker, it means they could be unhealthy?

Nope, it just means that a combination of genes and reduced UV exposure levels resulted in a darker-colored animal. As far as I know, theres no definitive proof that darker sulcatas are less healthy than lighter ones.

---

(08-07-2012 09:41 PM)FlapJackrage Wrote:  Could the black ones be breeded with another tortoise?

If they're old enough, then yes.

I've heard all sorts of theories about why this is, but so far, my observations are disproving all the theories. Usually the darker ones seem to be fast growing small ones, but even in my groups right now I have a blondie who is one of my biggest, fastest growing babies.

It seems to me that it is a genetic thing. Some kids with the same parents have dark hair while their siblings might have blonde hair. I do agree that time and weather tends to lighten it up, but still, some are just blacker than others and some are just lighter than others. The ther thing is that they can change as they age.

Its mainly genes. I have new hatchlings come out dark brown and some pure white. Just depends. As they get older and dont have alot of uv exposure they will tend to darken. Usually they will surpase the dark stage when they reach early maturity.

---

(08-08-2012 06:13 AM)Tom Wrote:  I've heard all sorts of theories about why this is, but so far, my observations are disproving all the theories. Usually the darker ones seem to be fast growing small ones, but even in my groups right now I have a blondie who is one of my biggest, fastest growing babies.

It seems to me that it is a genetic thing. Some kids with the same parents have dark hair while their siblings might have blonde hair. I do agree that time and weather tends to lighten it up, but still, some are just blacker than others and some are just lighter than others. The ther thing is that they can change as they age.

Shakes fist. You beat me by a few seconds man. Ha

Oh no. The time stamp says two full minutes!

Maybe I am missing what is being talked about here.

Yes, they have shades of color, but all pure Sulcatas are basically uniform in color. From the pictures, there seem to be dark patches on the head and spots on the back of the front legs. This is not normal.

???

What kind of vitamin do you use on their food... ??? I need to buy some

The "darker" one in the picture does have dark spots on his head. He was from an old lady that kept desert tortoises and Sulcatas in her backyard in the same enclosure. I was told those two couldn't cross breed. I found him in a tiny fishtank on sand no uv lights at all. The lighter one my husband found at a pets store. It was also not being taken care of properly, no uv light and still had the egg tooth. Needless to say they have both had the exposure to the UVA/UVB bulb and are in the sun the same amount.
The stuff on the food in the picture is ground up cuddle bone. I put it in their food so they would taste it. Now they just eat it as they need it. It's just left in their indoor enclosure.