Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There are two eggs that look great but have yet to hatch. The count thus far is 3 msp and 6 leonis - very pleased with the variation. Below are three hatchlings. What type of changes should i expect regarding pattern and color change with these post shed? Or even through time.

Nice looking thayeri -- congratulations on your success! The colors will be more bright and "true" once they shed, but the basic patterns do not really change as they grow. There will be changes in the colors (most typically they will become less bright) and grayish speckling can appear, especially on the lateral scales. Sometimes thayeri acquire a reddish or orangish cast as they mature. Some breeders are pretty good at predicting which animals are likely to mature toward brownish-gray (buckskin), but in general it can be hard to tell. In any case, that's all part of the fun!