This thread is dedicated to all novice cherryhead keepers who like myself a year ago, had no idea their baby torts shell color would go through some drastic changes. My baby grand-tort- Tucker was one of the 2 tiny hatchlings I bought over a year ago for my then 10 yr old daughter. His "sister" Redfoot named Shellie was the pretty one, with nice bright colors and some adorable split scutes. Little Tucker seemed to be a runt, much smaller, duller, inactive, not wanting to eat... We seriously didn't think he would live but wanted to do our best to give him a chance at life. here he is at 5wks old. Was just beginning to eat little better at that time. We took them outside every day for at least 1/2 hr and let them move around out in fresh air and under the real sun. Always positioned them where they could get into a shade if they wanted, always had water bowl and they would go drink out of it and just get in and sit in it for a while. This picture shows him at the time I was beginning to have hope Tucker would live. Here he is with Shellie about couple weeks later already showing lighter growth lines. At that point I was noticing them and beginning to worry attributing "dullness" in his coloration to his problems which had manifested low activity level and poor appetite, just little or no "drive" in that little dude. Here the lines getting even lighter and I'm getting REALLY WORRIED!!! Really making sure he eats, drinks gets his outdoor time, temp and humidity are where they need to be, there's good pee/poo and daily soaking. I fed them 3x day, they always had food leftover and fresh greens to much on in the enclosure. They were chewing on their cuttlebone very frequently at that time. Tbc (to be cont'ed)