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shell color and uvb

creeon Nov 10, 2003 10:43 PM

I was finally able to get a uvb light for my baby RES (he's still only an inch long, had him for almost 2 months now). Since I turned on the uvb lamp a few hours ago, i've noticed that his shell is turning a darker color right in the center. Is it a normal thing that UVB rays will color a turtle's shell? Or is something wrong with it?

Replies (2)

creeon Nov 11, 2003 01:17 PM

it wasn't just so much the scutes that seemed to be turning black, but the shell itself.

Yertle Nov 12, 2003 04:17 PM

My RES was adopted from a uninformed keeper and was living in a very poor environment. When I took him in and get his set up together I noticed a color change, but I can't say for sure if it was having UVB light or simply living in a proper set up for the first time. My RES's skin became much brighter and his ear stripes turned a brighter and more beautiful shade of red. So, I really can't explain what you saw, just explain what happened to me, which was the exactly opposite. As long as the dark spot hasn't persisted, and it was only a temporary thing, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

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