Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This female is eight years old, born and raised here in Ohio. My question is, how come she is blonde, and then the last several years of growth have been almost all black, some marbling but for the most part just black? Any ideas? or just in the genetics and it had nothing to do with anything anyone did? thanks

Andy

Thank you for the best laugh I've had all day... seriously... it was good.

So... you bought this 'blonde' leopard for some good bucks or good trade and you got... a normal leopard.

I'm sure color is genetic but the leopard is unique in that if you raise it really hot and humid(relatively speaking) you get a white tortoise... a blonde. You're photo has to be the best example of this and that's why I laughed.

Somebody definately did something.

>>This female is eight years old, born and raised here in Ohio. My question is, how come she is blonde, and then the last several years of growth have been almost all black, some marbling but for the most part just black? Any ideas? or just in the genetics and it had nothing to do with anything anyone did? thanks
>>
>>Andy
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

>>Thank you for the best laugh I've had all day... seriously... it was good.
>>
>>So... you bought this 'blonde' leopard for some good bucks or good trade and you got... a normal leopard.
>>
>>I'm sure color is genetic but the leopard is unique in that if you raise it really hot and humid(relatively speaking) you get a white tortoise... a blonde. You're photo has to be the best example of this and that's why I laughed.
>>
>>Somebody definately did something.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>>This female is eight years old, born and raised here in Ohio. My question is, how come she is blonde, and then the last several years of growth have been almost all black, some marbling but for the most part just black? Any ideas? or just in the genetics and it had nothing to do with anything anyone did? thanks
>>>>
>>>>Andy
>>>>
>>-----
>>Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
>>Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care
-----
Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Yep, I too laughed the second I saw this tortoise. I have seen the exact thing happen when leopards are raised exclusively indoors out of direct sunlight. Then, when they are kept outside and they get full sunlight, these 'blonds' suddenly sprout black roots!
Although there might actually be a really pale color phase of leopard tortoise, I tend to think that it is all in how they are raised and it has nothing to do with genetics.

Why would the sun make the tortoise's growth black,it usely faids color? Is it because the animal is healthy'er therefor the pigment is layed down more natural looking.Also why does raising them inside make them blond or lighter.As a owner of many dark tortoises I dont see much of this sort of thing.Other than a emys emys is born a lite silver gray and turn brown in about six months.I can see that the front one third of a very old and black Mt.tortoise has turned brown and is more porous than the back half of the carapace because it stayes wet longer than the back half as if its had some UV oxadation.This two tone look appeared after about 10 years of captivity.I've been told that tree cover in some areas of their range is 90 % shade.Florida sun? Anyway I NEVER saw any wild Leopard tortoises come in BLOND out of the thousands I saw as an importer's shop pest visitor for 25 years or so.I did find out that you can change their color for quite some time if you soak them in Gator Aid.(dont use blue) Cool subject....what say you Pigmentologest? vic

Vic,
The dark pigment is a response to the sunlight. Think tanning in humans.
I had someone send me two adult males years ago that had been raised indoors in Virginia under lights. They were a very pale tan and quite 'blond' as well. But the new growth they started laying down in my yard was jet black.

Thanks mayday,com'on by anytime your in Florida,we'ill talk tort and knock back some longnecks in my rain forest home where the emys rome.vic

South Florida that is. But my little sister lives near you in Mandarin.