Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My EBT is up. (Actually, a couple of weeks ago I dug him up to soak and weigh him, and he just didn't dig back in. He is in our basement.) I got him from someone who couldn't take care of him anymore, who got him from someone who couldn't take care of him anymore. So I'm guessing he hasn't hibernated in awhile if ever. I hibernated him the last two winters.

It seems to me this spring his color has gotten much brighter. Is it just me, or could it because of being able to hibernate?
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

The only apparent color intensification I've ever noticed was the eye color of males coming up from hibernation. The red eyes do seem redder than they were in the fall (in the males that have red eyes, that is).
Of course it may just be my imagination, and that I'm responding to not having seen them in a few months.

could be related to testoterone level, don't you think?

Sure.

Here's an idea that maybe you haven't thought of.
You say you got him from someone who couldn't take care of him.. maybe he's looking better because you've been feeding him better foods, and giving him better care than he's used to.
A high quality diet and proper care can do wonders for dull colors.
-----
PHRatz

If your turtle is less than 12-15 years old, it's colors haven't reached their final levels of intensity. I have a male and female EBT that are both 10 yrs. old, and they have become more colorful every year. They continue to change, very subtly, during hibernation, but you tend to notice it more after a few months of not seeing them. My male is just starting to reach maturity, and there was a very noticeable change in his eye color from brown to reddish when he came up for the first time this spring-about a week ago.

I have no idea how old he is, except that he is sexually mature! I'm not sure how long the previous owner had him, but I got the sense that it wasn't very long. She seemed fairly knowledgable. She had brought him to a vet, tested for parasites, etc. She gave me his vitamin supplements and said he didn't like turtle food. On the other hand, I know she kept him in a 50 gallon terranium with just a florescent light!

Prehaps it's a combination of maturing, hibernating and spending the summers outside. In otherwords, generally better health. It makes me feel good that he is enjoying better health now, but I hope he wasn't too uncomfortable before.
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

I've noticed that improper lighting can "wash out" the brilliant colors of certain herps, even regardless of diet.

That's interesting, and may be applicable. As I said, she kept him indoors w/ a florescent light. Here, he has spent 2 summers outside, and when he is up and inside I have a full spectrum light. So, maybe I'm not seeing things, maybe his colors are becoming brighter!
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

Hubby came downstairs and saw Spike for the first time this year. He immediately exclaimed, "Wow, his colors look a lot better!" Since I hadn't said anything to hubby about this, I take it as confirmation that he IS looking brighter! lol! (especially since this is a colorblind man!)
-----
0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband