Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I’m a longtime reptile keeper and I'm looking to buy my first BTS and I had a question about picking babies for color and pattern. Do baby skinks change color or pattern as they age? Are there any colors that as babies tend be another predictable color as adults (i.e. orange maturing to brown)? Can one assume that babies will look largely like their parents as adults? By the way, I’m just asking about northerns and IJs. Thanks!

I don't think there is much significant change between coloration as a baby matures. Pattern is fixed. One of mine did lighten up overall but the other stayed identical to what he looked like as a baby. They do darken before a shed though.

I only have two Northerns so my pool of reference is quite small. Hopefully others who have bred and raised much more than I have will add their input.
-----
PHLdyPayne

The best indicator of what the baby blue-tongue will look like as an adult, is the parents. The pattern will remain constant throughout their life, but will tend to become "blurred" as they age in many animals. The color can change alot during the first year, but not in predictable ways. Some tend to get brighter, while others seem to get duller. In my experience, the vast majority end up looking VERY similar to their parents as far as color goes. Of course if the parents are very different from each other, the offspring will be less predictable.

They change a little bit. Here is my skink at 2-3 months

and at 3 years old