just dug out a few pictures.these are of the same leopard at different stages of growth.i find it amazing to watch them grow and how their shell pattern changes.





ok have added all three pictures to this topic and copied this one here at the start so it can be viewed with the originals.this tortoise is going to be 3 years old in september this year 2011

WOW! Fantastic! Over what period of time was that? Months? Years? They are beautiful torts, I love their colours & markings

thats about 18 to 20 months.this one is almost 2 years now so i will get an up to date one and add it to this post.

It looks like all new growth is darker.

hi Sandy it appears with faster growth and if kept in a very warm environment you can force lighter growth.from what i have seen on the internet particularly in the states they seem keen on so called blonde leopards.personally like yourself i prefer a more natural looking tortoise and if that means slow growth and in a lot of cases darker im very pleased to see it.some leopards are naturally blonde and when kept under identical conditions there is a lot of variation in what you see.i do have a naturally blonde hatchling now and you can be sure i will be keeping a photographic record of that ones development.

She/he's a beauty. The more i see of them the more i want one ........

Its amazing to see how much the shell pattern has changed. He/she is gorgeous.

thanks for he kind comments i am very proud of all my tortoises and put a lot of time and effort into their diet and environment.i finds leopard particularly difficult to grow well and keep phtographic records of a couple of them so i can watch their growth and so tweak the diet as i think its needed.

I think its amazing when you look back at old photos, and i cant believe how much they change without me noticing!

Heres penny 2yrs ago..



Penny about 15 months ago



About a year ago



And yesterday!



Has anyone else got any older photos like before and after??

Great thread!

ok here is an update this little tortoise was bred and hatched by me along with another who is slightly smaller now and if anything smoother.i have kept a record of this one in particular with weight and scl records and as you can see from the start of this topic a potographic record also.the first picture i have copied to the start of this topic so its easier to compare with earlier photographs and to see it is the same tortoise.
second pic was taken with mum in the main enclosure mum is 16" scl she was 10" when i got her.
third picture is taken in the juveniles enclosure where it spends most days during the summer months.