Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My friend breed his hypo-trans male leatherback with his yellow citrus and he was wondering how to tell them apart at a week old. Some of his babies have some orange starting to show, and some are smooth in the middle of there backs but not really on the sides. Just wondering if any can help thanx

Leather have reduced scales along the back and sides and normals will have full scales and spines. Leathers are a scale reduction mutation, which has been combined with other color mutations
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Are they completly smooth when the are first born or do they get smoother as they shed? Some look smooth but when the are basking they look rougher than usual.

Far as I know they don't change 'smoothness' after being born. Bright basking lights may cause deeper shadows which could make them look rougher than normal...perhaps the leather breeders will pipe in with their personal experience with baby leather backs and adults.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

There are different qualities of leathers. Some are super smooth. Some are just smoother than normals. Depending on the quality of the leathers, they can look rough. Breeding rough leathers only produces more rough leathers. Only the smoothest should be used for breeding.
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