Soft shell

[DobbyRed]

Hi to all!
Just a simple question!
When a little hatchling will have a strong hard shell???

Cause I was playing with little Hedwig our nearly 1 1/2" Red and notice the plastron was very soft but the carapace wasn't.
Any ideas?!

 

[abclements]

The carapace really shouldn't ever be soft outside of being very new born. My reds plastron remains springy up to 3.5 inches. Springy is the key though, it should be flexing on the growth lines. It should not feel like it is flexing anywhere else, feel like it is paper thin, or be deformable at all. I know this is more than you asked for lol

 

[DobbyRed]

Thanks a lots!! I was a little worried for the tiny tort.