Sal going into a shed... and his color appears to be changing (???)

[lexi]

Yesterday we noticed that Sal is starting a shed... he is, I guess what you'd call 'normal' color. It's a sandy beige with darker brown on his sides, with white tiger looking stripes.

Tonight, when he was having his bath, we noticed that his eyes and chin are starting to look much more orange, more like Athena's. We were told Sal is over 2 years old. I know that they continue to shed throughout their lives, but would he be changing color at this age? We also know his temps and nutrition were not optimal in his previous situation. We've had him since around xmas and have made every effort to make everything perfect for him - we got him off crickets and romaine lettuce and onto dubias, collard greens, mustard greens and much better veggies along with proper supplements. I also don't think he was getting baths regularly before, but does now, and his UVB was probably nonexistant since they used the same ReptiSun 5.0 for his whole life because (and I quote) it "never burned out" :

Anyway, I'm very curious to see what he will look like when he's done. I'm just wondering if a color change is normal at his age, or if correcting the husbandry issues would cause such a thing.

 

[crypticdragons]

its not so much a color change you are seeing as its his actual color. He probably hasnt shed in a long time. The skin he is shedding now could have been long dead and possibly a few sheds in parts. Thats why it had the dingy/dull look to it. Now that he is in optimal care his body is able to shed and you will be pleasantly surprised at the final outcome of his look.

 

[renich]

Yes, it is normal to see their colors very vibrant after a shed. Bernie would get a striking orange around his lower lip after a shed.