White lines on red foot shell

Yvonne G

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Jan 23, 2008
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Clovis, CA
New growth lines that are showing marbling. Quite ok.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Definitely Marbling.
 

Renrogo

New Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2019
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Location (City and/or State)
OH
I’m a newbie to all the lingo - what exactly is marbling? Many thanks!
 

JTH

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Jun 4, 2018
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39
Location (City and/or State)
East Lansing, MI
Please HELP!
It appears that your tortoise is growing quickly. Sometimes the areas of new growth around the scute margins are not able to incorporate melanin as fast as the growth is happening, so the margins look lighter in color. Normally they will eventually darken. In some redfoots (esp cherryheads) there are naturally lighter areas that develop and may stay that way. Called "marbling", it is considered desirable and not harmful.
 

Renrogo

New Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2019
Messages
10
Location (City and/or State)
OH
It appears that your tortoise is growing quickly. Sometimes the areas of new growth around the scute margins are not able to incorporate melanin as fast as the growth is happening, so the margins look lighter in color. Normally they will eventually darken. In some redfoots (esp cherryheads) there are naturally lighter areas that develop and may stay that way. Called "marbling", it is considered desirable and not harmful.
Thank you!
 
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