Albino Sulcata Tortoise or Ivory Sulcata

Albino Sulcata Tortoise or Ivory Sulcata

Typically sulcata tortoises vary between shades of tan and brown. Some are darker and some tortoises are lighter shades. However there are albino and ivory morphs of sulcata tortoise that are both very light. At first glance, the two morphs appear to look the same.

Albino Sulcata Tortoise

Albino means that the tortoise has a condition where there is no melanin, which means no black. on the skin or shell. Albinism is a recessive condition that occurs when both the male and female have the albino gene.

The shell of an albino sulcata tortoise is a pale yellow color, as the tortoise ages, the color may darken, however it will never have the dark growth in-between the scutes like some standard sulcatas have.

The eyes of an albino sulcata tortoise will be red.

Depending on the age of the tortoise, an albino sulcata tortoise can cost $1,000 – $6,000. Typically babies are cheaper than older sulcatas. Females are more expensive than males.

Ivory Sulcata Tortoise

An ivory sulcata, also referred to as a pearl sulcata tortoise, have a rare Leucistic gene. In order to produce ivory sulcatas, you have to have two ivory sulcatas or sulcatas with the Leucistic gene.

Normal-looking siblings to an ivory sulcata are about 66.6% het for the Leucistic gene.

The Leucistic gene causes a loss of pigment in everything except the eyes. So, the shell of an ivory tortoise will be similar to an albino – a pale yellow color. However, the eyes will still maintain pigment and will be black and not red, like an albino sulcata.

When an ivory sulcata is born, the eyes look like an albino tortoises eyes, however within the first few weeks, they will change to a standard color.

Depending on the age of the tortoise, an ivory sulcata tortoise can cost up to $3,000. Het ivory sulcata tortoises can cost about $400.