Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I adopted my 3-toed, Rusty, two years ago last week. And his color, both his skin and his shell has improved from year to year, and even month to month. But as I was just sitting out watching them 10 minutes ago, Rusty was out straining his neck to see if I was going to throw any food his way, when I realized just how dramatically his color has brightened this year. His whole neck is covered in orange, yellow, black and tan spots. His legs have bright yellow spots and even the top of his carapace is starting to show yellow striations and speckles.

I'm sure it's a combination of a much better diet than he was receiving, an outdoor enclosure and the fact that he is in his first full year of sexual maturity (just guessing from the number of times I "walk in on him" flexing his, ahem, muscle).

Just thought I would share. I felt like a proud parent.

Nice looking turtle!

The males do get more colorful with age (up to a point of course...).

Thanks, StephF. He's a great turtle. I'm really glad I have three immature males, just for that reason: so I can see them mature and add color year to year. I think it's also a good determination and encouragement that you're (I'm) doing things right.

I hope that you're taking photos at regular intervals! It's neat to have evidence of the transition.

Oh I am. I really need to get a better camera too.

Natural sunlight and a diet rich in Carotenes as well as other vitamins and minerals do make a big difference.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Curtis,
hes looking great, he's starting to get or actually has that classic "clown" look. Sweet
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

Thanks, Jeff. He is making me proud, that's for sure.